Christine Milne (Tasmania, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, upon notice, on 31 October 2011:

(1) Can a copy be provided of the latest data on the distribution of the Asian honey bee in Australia and, in particular, as a direct result of the 2007 incursion in Cairns.

(2) Can a copy be provided of the evidence (including data) that supports the view that the Asian honey bee cannot be eradicated.

(3) What Government expenditure has been incurred to date for the current field season in containment of the Asian honey bee.

(4) Can a copy be provided of the data collected during the 2011 field season for the Asian honey bee, which has bearing on its eradicability.

(5) Does the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation still hold the view that there is insufficient evidence to conclude that the Asian honey bee is ineradicable.

(6) What relevant in-house expertise does the department have in relation to assessing the Asian honey bee incursion.

(7) What advice has the department received on the spread of the Asian honey bee and the impact it will have on:

  (a) incidental pollination services;

  (b) paid pollination services; and

  (c) Australian biodiversity.

(8) What measures has the department advised will be required to avoid or reduce these expected impacts.

(9) How much funding from the $2 million allocated by the Government for the Asian honey bee will be allocated for the functioning of the Scientific Advisory Group.

(10) What funding has been allocated to support any urgent research that might be identified by the Scientific Advisory Group.