Shadow Minister for Agriculture Brendan Moylan has called on the Minns Labor Government to stop sitting on its hands and urgently respond to a reported second strain of varroa mite, as beekeepers warn of devastating impacts on the industry and food production.
The NSW Apiarists Association reportedly confirmed this week that the Minns Labor Government has provided no meaningful support to beekeepers dealing with the latest incursion, leaving many operators to shoulder the burden alone.
Mr Moylan said the emergence of the second strain of varroa mite was a major biosecurity failure that demanded immediate action and transparency from Labor.
“This is a national biosecurity embarrassment, but right now NSW beekeepers are being left to pay the price,” Mr Moylan said.
“Minister Moriarty must come clean on the full extent of this latest incursion, explain how it occurred, and outline what support is being provided to an industry facing enormous uncertainty.
“If they continue to downplay the issue, they are effectively sweeping another serious biosecurity crisis under the rug.”
Mr Moylan said the consequences extend far beyond the beekeeping sector, with pollination services critical to food production across NSW.
“This is no longer just a problem for beekeepers. The loss of commercial hives is already having consequences for agricultural production and food security.
“Roughly one-third of the food we consume relies on pollination, including fruit, vegetables, cereals and fibre crops. If bee numbers continue to decline, there will be real impacts throughout the supply chain.”
The NSW Apiarists Association has warned of significant hive losses across eastern Australia following the latest incursion.
Mr Moylan said serious questions need to be answered about how another strain of varroa mite had established itself in Australia despite existing biosecurity controls.
“The cause of this latest incursion may not yet be known, but what is clear is that the current response is falling well short of what farmers and beekeepers expect from their government.
Beekeepers are crying out for assistance and they’re being met with silence.
“There are already fears that up to 40 per cent of commercial beekeepers could leave the industry over the next two to three years.
“That would be devastating for regional communities, devastating for agricultural production, and devastating for Australia’s food security.
“The Minns Labor Government needs to start acting on this before more businesses are lost and the damage becomes irreversible.”
