Tasmanian government must protect local honey industry

The Tasmanian government must explain to the local bee and honey industry why it chose to vote against eradication of the Asian bee (Apis cerana) at a recent meeting of states to determine the future of the eradication project.

The Asian bee has the potential to destroy our local bee industry and with it the major pollination service that the bee industry provides to Tasmanian horticulture/agriculture.

The Tasmanian government’s own Department of Primary Industry website states:

The economic value of pollination services to Tasmanian agricultural and horticultural production is estimated to be 188 million dollars. (Miller, DPIWE, 2001).

“This short sighted action puts in jeopardy Tasmania’s world renowned honey industry and emerging medical honey products as well as all parts of the agricultural sector reliant on pollination” Senator Colbeck said.

“The Federal government was yesterday forced by the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Reference Committee into agreeing to reconvene the Consultative Committee to reconsider eradication of the Asian bee.

“Because of the work of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Reference Committee the State government has the opportunity to redeem itself when the Consultative Committee convenes again next week.

“At the January meeting of the Committee Queensland put up a proposal to invest $5 million a year for two years to make a serious attempt to eradicate this pest. This is a small price to pay when compared to the potential hundred of millions dollars in costs if this devastating pest is allowed to spread across the country. The Federal government were loath to put a monetary figure on the damage the Asian been could cause.

“The Tasmanian government continuously talks of its plans to make Tasmania the food bowl of the nation yet time and time again its actions work against that objective.

“A food bowl has no chance without pollination services of bees.

“It’s about time the government started living up to its rhetoric”. Senator Colbeck said.