Varroa mite: Senate inquiry into handling of pest outbreak

A government inquiry into the handling of the Varroa mite outbreak is set to hand down its findings in early 2024.

Beekeepers whose bees were euthanised and were banned from establishing new hives for three years after a varroa mite infestation will now be able to resume operations, as governments work to establish a management plan.

It comes as the federal government announced a Senate inquiry into the handling of the 15-month outbreak in NSW, as well as the red imported fire ants outbreak in Queensland.

Crop Pollination Association of Australia president Steve Fuller welcomed news of the inquiry, and said industry and the government needed to learn lessons from the varroa incursion.

“The biggest thing about this inquiry into (the outbreak), and all the mistakes made with this incursion, is that we’re lucky it wasn’t foot and mouth, or something that was human-oriented,” Mr Fuller said.

“What is going to happen if we get something major? I’d hate to see what the cost would have been to our ag sector.”

A NSW DPI spokesman said with the move to management of the pest instead of eradication, beekeepers in old red zones could “technically … restart apiaries if they wish”. However, DPI was strongly recommending against collecting swarms in the management zones “due to the high risk of varroa being present”.

The Federal Government will hold an inquiry into the management of the 15-month Varroa mite outbreak in NSW, with the inquiry to hand down its findings in 2024. Picture: Nick Cubbin

“To bring hives out of the management zone they need a permit and a number of conditions,” the spokesman said.

Mr Fuller, who had about 300 hives euthanised in the recent outbreak, said many producers were relieved the government had moved to a management phase, but a lack of communication between it and producers was causing confusion.

“We really are bamboozled,” Mr Fuller said.

“The problem with the whole situation is … in the management phase I can do whatever I want, whereas a month ago I would have had to put permits in. I feel they’ve gone from one extreme to the other, but at the same time there’s feeling that it’s not (the government’s) problem, it’s your problem.

“Twelve months ago you’re being told to kill (hives), and now being told we can bring healthy ones in … this comes back to communication. It’s so hard at the moment.”