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AQIS Bulletin- February/ March 2009

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Image showing front cover of AQIS Bulletin February/March 2009 edition 

Bridging distances with remote diagnostics

Frontline AQIS officers and their entomologist colleagues are connecting all around the country through the use of new technology. Remote diagnostics represents a new phase in obtaining fast and accurate advice about intercepted insects using the internet. Staff in Adelaide, Townsville, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, Perth and Karratha, and from CSIRO's Australian National Insect Collection, can all feed live images from their microscope to the internet using Nikon Digital Sight technology.

The technology has evolved out of a model developed at CSIRO by Darren Peck. It was originally employed in the medical field but Darren and his colleagues recognised its value within the AQIS laboratory network.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke, and AQIS Executive Director Rob Delane, were recently given a demonstration of remote diagnostics in Perth, linked to Karratha, and both came away impressed by the system's speed and efficiency.

The enthusiastic reception of remote diagnostics has been mirrored across the country. WA's Operational Science Manager Aaron Maxwell and Entomology and Vector Monitoring Coordinator Jacqui Otley observed how vital the trial is to the Operational Science Program (OSP) and its scientists to make speedy assessments of potential exotic pests and diseases, allowing effective quarantine decisions on the spot.

Adelaide–based officers regularly get on the phone to Melbourne–based entomologists for the diagnosis of intercepted specimens such as beetles in timber, or psocids out of a tapa mat. After adjusting focus and zoom and manipulating the specimen, preliminary findings can be quickly reached and informed and effective action taken. Likewise, scientists in Melbourne and other locations are able to place slide–mounted mite specimens on the compound microscope and contact OSP's Acarology Co–ordinator Jurgen Otto in Sydney for identification. Postage costs are nil and waiting time equates to minutes, not days.

The use of remote diagnostics technology has led to some good outcomes for industry. For example, stockfeed coming into Townsville was recently able to be released without the need for fumigation because intercepted insects were quickly identified as not of quarantine concern. Stored products imported from a variety of countries, including the USA and China, have also been released quickly by inspectors in Adelaide because intercepted specimens did not need to be actioned. Quick turn–around times and fewer fumigations therefore reduce the costs to importers.

The new system reflects the importance of the scientists' role in quarantine and biosecurity, and their vital knowledge in identifying pests and disease. Specialist expertise can be located anywhere in Australia and this allows staff to tap into these resources to help assess and manage quarantine risk. More of the units will be installed in more work locations across the country.


Beale report proposes major overhaul of Australia's biosecurity system

In December 2008, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke released the report by an expert panel chaired by Roger Beale AO, the report is titled One Biosecurity: A Working Partnership.

The growing threats of climate change, globalisation and agri–terrorism mean Australia needs to overhaul its biosecurity system, according to the report.

The report makes 84 recommendations which represent the biggest reforms to our biosecurity system in more than a century.

Key recommendations include:

  • Establish a new national authority which brings together the major functions of Biosecurity Australia (BA); the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and parts of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
  • Establish a new biosecurity standards commission to assess the biosecurity risk of imports, with greater emphasis on risks to human health and the environment.
  • Develop new biosecurity legislation to replace the Quarantine Act which is a century old.
  • Appoint an Inspector–General of Biosecurity with broad powers to audit and investigate the Authority's work.
  • Establish a new council of experts to advise government.
  • Improve coordination between states, territories, industry and the Commonwealth to better monitor biosecurity after goods and people enter the country, not just at the border.

The panel also recommends an increase in funding and substantial information technology upgrades. It held 170 meetings with domestic and international stakeholders and received more than 200 submissions.

Mr Burke said the Rudd Government had accepted all 84 recommendations in–principle, but more consultation was needed on how to implement the findings and fund the reforms.

From 1 July 2009 a new Biosecurity Services Group will be formed within the Department. This group will integrate AQIS, BA and Product Integrity and Animal Plant Health (PIAPH) functions.

Deputy Secretary responsible for biosecurity, Rob Delane said the proposed interim structure would support consistent service delivery along the biosecurity continuum (pre-border, border and post-border).

'We are developing a 'risk return' approach to determine where efforts should be channelled to get the most return in terms of reducing Australia's biosecurity risks.

'Review of existing legislation is in its early stages and we will be consulting with stakeholders as this progresses. We are applying a very disciplined approach to the biosecurity 'transformation' program to progress the recommendations of the Callinan Inquiry and the Beale Review and continue to deliver world–leading biosecurity services.'

For more information and to obtain the report go to the AQIS website; phone freecall 1800 196 192 or email. 

You'd have to be nuts!

The plantain squirrel, a common species in Bali and throughout Indonesia and Malaysia, was curled up in a (none too fresh) sock when it was found by Customs officers at Sydney's international mail gateway. Plantain squirrels aren't endangered—in fact, they are agricultural pests in some parts of Asia, since they feed on fruit and grains in addition to flowers, leaves and insects—but they are a genuine quarantine risk.

Squirrels carry a range of disease threats from trichinosis (which can be fatal to humans) to plague and even rabies, as well as diseases and exotic parasites that could threaten Australia's vulnerable native mammals.

AQIS compliance officers are investigating the illegal importation. The squirrel was in a parcel declared as containing a tissue box, DVDs and clothing. Penalties for breaching Australia's quarantine laws—such as failing to declare the contents of mail items—include fines of up to $60,000 or 10 years in prison.

The squirrel was taken to AQIS's Sydney offices but did not survive; it had been without food or water for several days. Wildlife smuggling is as cruel as it is thoughtless, and AQIS vets are regularly required to humanely euthanase reptiles, birds and other animals that have suffered extreme stress.

New certification to keep honey exports sweet

AQIS has moved to protect the reputation of Australia's honey and honey products by introducing enhanced export certification regulations.

The new rules affect export honey products that contain imported ingredients. AQIS now requires a certificate of analysis to confirm that the products are free from residues of banned drugs that have previously been detected in honey products repackaged and exported from Australia, or blended with Australian honey and exported.

Detections of nitrofurans in Australian honey caused disruptions to trade between Australia and Canada from 2003 to 2006. AQIS's imported food program found nitrofurans in consignments of honey from China and Bulgaria. More recently, chloramphenicol residues have been found in Australian blended honey and propolis exported to the United Kingdom.

As far as AQIS has been able to determine, all of these cases involved repackaging of imported product or blending of imported honey with Australian honey.

Investigations identified the imported components as the source of the residues.

The certificate of analysis must include chloramphenicol and nitrofuran antibiotics, and must meet the minimum performance criteria listed by the European Commission (Commission Decision 2003/181/CE of 13 March 2003, Off. J. Eur. Commun. L71 (2003) 17).


Martina makes her mark

'If someone had asked me two years ago where I thought I'd be in 12 months, AQIS was far from my thoughts… my knowledge of the organisation was minimal, other than knowing a family member who worked for AQIS in the Torres Strait—and the perceptions I had gathered from Border Security.

'So when I was given the opportunity to join the organisation that serves to protect the country that I call home, I was keen to learn more.'

Martina Dorante is one of AQIS's bright new recruits who joined in 2007 on an Indigenous traineeship program.

A year-and-a-half later, Martina has come out on top, a fully fledged AQIS officer with accredited certificates in Business Administration and Government plus the title of Trainee of the Year 2008 by the University of New England partnerships program.

Martina has not looked back once from the 12 month traineeship that has let her experience the many program areas of AQIS.

Like the departmental graduate program, the Indigenous traineeships rotate participants through numerous work areas to build skills and networks, develop a strong knowledge base, and provide hands on experience in AQIS's different operating environments.

Martina has worked alongside her South Queensland colleagues facilitating perishable imports in Air Cargo; clearing personal effects at bond stores in Centralised Appointments; conducting passenger clearance at Brisbane Airport; and administering Giant African Snail and external container inspections at the Port of Brisbane.

'The traineeship package compiled by AQIS was excellent. I was able to get a comprehensive view and hands on experience of each different work area. I feel that having experienced the vast range of responsibilities across the organisation has provided me with a greater understanding and appreciation for our work.'

She now calls the Brisbane International Mail Exchange home, and reflects on the traineeship that has given her an insight into the breadth and depth of a career with AQIS.

'Throughout my journey I have met so many friendly people and received continuous support from colleagues, supervisors and management. I'm glad to have now found a home at the mail exchange with such a great team.

'I'm grateful to AQIS for this opportunity and would encourage other Indigenous Australians to follow the same path.'

Snake rattles young importer

An eight year old boy made a REDLINE* call to AQIS Victoria when he found live insects inside a taxidermied rattlesnake. The specimen was purchased over the internet from the United States and the live insects started appearing inside the small glass display cabinet. The quarantine–aware youngster realised that AQIS needed to be informed.

The snake, insects and a substantial quantity of frass (sawdust type residue created by boring insects) were forwarded on to AQIS entomologists for identification. At first, AQIS was concerned that the insects closely resembled the exotic Khapra beetle which is a high risk pest (see our story 'Live hairy larvae alert AQIS' in this edition of the AQIS Bulletin). The insects were soon identified as Trogoderma variabile, a close relative of the Khapra beetle.

Photos of the snake were sent to the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts to find out whether the specimen represented a CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species) issue. The snake was identified as a prairie rattlesnake, Crotalus viridus viridus. The species is native to New Mexico and Texas in the Southern United States and is not on the endangered list, so no further action was taken against the seller.

AQIS officers returned the specimen to its thankful owner after treating the infestation.


The AQIS REDLINE is dedicated to calls about breaches of Australian quarantine, export or food inspection laws that haven't been detected, reported or acted on through normal channels. AQIS investigators are committed to protecting the confidentiality of everyone who calls the REDLINE. Leaving a name and contact details is not necessary, but assists in identifying and responding to possible breaches. All records are held securely, and no information is passed on to other departments or agencies, except where privacy laws allow.
The REDLINE number is 1800 803 006.



Industry and AQIS act quickly

AQIS has worked closely with a Launceston hotel and conference venue to avert a potentially serious borer infestation from spreading out into the community.

A container of furniture from China with a valid fumigation certificate was delivered to the hotel, where the furniture was unpacked and the container returned to the transport yard for dehiring.

One month later three staff members were assembling the chairs and found borer holes, frass and a live larva. They contacted the northern Tasmanian quarantine office immediately and a quarantine officer arrived within the hour.

To contain the risk the furniture was loaded into a shipping container pending scientific assessment of the risks posed. Photos of the larva were emailed to AQIS Entomology in Victoria where it was quickly identified as an exotic Longicorn beetle—a wood borer of significance to the timber industry. The furniture was fumigated and then released.

If introduced to Australia, the beetle has the potential to damage pine tree timber used for construction and affect Australia's exports of timber. The damage is caused by larvae tunnelling in the wood which significantly reduces the quality of the timber produced. This would have devastating effects on Australia’s forest and construction industries.

The hotel staff's actions highlight the value in strong cooperation between industry and AQIS. The response to this incident shows what can be achieved by conscientious reporting and speedy and accurate identification of potential quarantine risks. AQIS works in partnership with state and territory governments to contain, identify and manage reports of exotic pests and diseases.

Pest managers build links with AQIS

Pest controllers and AQIS officers work together regularly in a range of situations, including wharves, airports, quarantine approved premises (QAPs) and quarantine laboratories.

According to AQIS entomologist Chris Norwood, AQIS supervises and monitors treatments provided by pest controllers who fumigate cargo or treat illegal foreign fishing vessels or other boats before they are brought into berth.

'Pest controllers participate in AQIS's importation inspection of yachts with timber components, and supply treatments where necessary,' Chris said.

Pest controllers are likely to be the first people to encounter wood-boring insects and termites in private residences, and are therefore an important client group for AQIS.

'Pest controllers are educated about and familiar with local species, and can often spot an exotic species that may be of interest to AQIS. We encourage them to contact AQIS or state or territory agriculture departments to investigate anything unusual.'

In Darwin last year, 100 environmental pest managers from across Australia received a snapshot view of AQIS's operational science program at the Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association (AEPMA) National Conference.

'The Australian Environmental Pest Managers Association is an industry organisation with the goal of providing Australians with the best, safest and most cost effective pest management service', said AEPMA's national executive director, Stephen Ware.

'Members are bound by a strict code of ethics which requires them, among other things, to ensure that all work is carried out in accordance with industry codes of practice and government regulations. The highest priority is given to safety and care for the environment.'

'It is an inescapable truth that the world has changed dramatically for Australian pest management in the past five years or so.'

'The genetic make up of some insect or pest populations has altered, some pest niches have shifted significantly, and the incidence of invasive species has risen. Ecologists predict that we can expect many more of these sorts of changes in the future,' Stephen said.

Coincidentally, the actions of chemical regulatory organisations, globalisation, and the emergence of insecticide resistance have reduced the number of available effective products for some pests.

'In this environment AEPMA members are only too pleased to work with organisations such as the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service to help protect not only Australia's unique environment but also Australia's agricultural and pastoral industries.'

'Like AQIS, helping protect the Australian environment in an era of increasing globalisation and growing trade is a goal of the professional pest management industry. In this new environment, the pest management industry embraces these changes and seeks to provide quality service in all aspects to complement the efforts of the Australian Government to ensure unwanted pests are contained at Australia's borders,' he said.

QUARANTINE TOP WATCH! calendars… worth their weight in midges

A Torres Strait resident recently demonstrated the effectiveness of the Quarantine Top Watch! calendars. Not only are they a beautiful community showpiece they are a truly valuable reference tool in the identification of exotic pest, weeds and diseases.

Ross O'Brien was in his backyard on Horn Island when he noticed some spots on the leaves of his mango tree. He recalled seeing something similar in his Quarantine Top Watch! calendar and went inside to confirm it. Comparing his mango tree to the mango gall midge image appearing in the July 2008 photo, Ross realised that AQIS should be contacted. Ross then took some specimens to the local quarantine officer at the Horn Island airport who passed them on to the AQIS team when they arrived for a routine plant health survey. 

This resulted in the first detection of Procontarinia pustulata (mango gall midge) on Horn Island. Ross has been living on Horn Island for 40 years and said he looks closely at the different quarantine risks featured every month.

'The photos are very clear and show what the exotic pests, weeds and diseases are really like,' Ross said.

According to NAQS communication officer, Ghina Makari, the calendars are highly valued in communities as they are seen as useful, informative and culturally significant.

'They deliver vital quarantine messages to residents in the Torres Strait and remote northern Australia to help them help AQIS by keeping watch for exotic pests, weeds and diseases.'

Some great feedback received from the calendars includes:

'Good to see the AQIS team in the Torres Strait is keeping all community well informed and a job well done too in educating the children on what to do and look out for.'

'…your calendar is known for its in–depth value.'

'Everyone I know here at Bloomfield/Wujal Wujal loves your calendar and eagerly awaits the new one each year. A great way of spreading your message!!'

The calendars are produced annually as part of AQIS's Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy's (NAQS) communication.



KALAAC—draws together cultures of the Kimberley

The annual Kimberley Aboriginal Language and Culture Centre Festival (KALAAC), held in September 2008, was an ideal place for AQIS community liaison co-ordinator Piers Peters-Snow to network with Indigenous leaders and other government departments from across the vast and remote territory in the far north of Western Australia, known as the Kimberley.

AQIS has an Indigenous Liaison Strategy in place to help monitor for exotic pests and diseases in remote northern areas. Under the strategy, Indigenous ranger groups are signed up to 'fee for service' contracts and trained in how to survey and monitor on behalf of AQIS. The strategy relies on the local knowledge of remote-living Indigenous people and their ability to pick up on anything 'unusual' in their country.

The Kimberley Land Council, the peak Aboriginal organisation, welcomed communities from south of Broome to Kununurra. 'All desert mobs and coastal communities in the Kimberley region were represented,' Piers said. 'This included many of the ranger groups.'

The KRI or Kimberley Ranger Initiative, is a new project that is developing new ranger programs in the region and AQIS was identified as a potential source of government involvement with the project, which is designed to encourage rangers to actively engage on 'working on country' initiatives.

Piers says: 'Each day had a "ranger circle"—a meeting where all rangers' issues are openly discussed.  I was asked to give an overview of our program, what groups have been involved and what results they have been achieving.'

The festival is held in a different location each year. Last year it was held at Old Mt Barnett Station on the Gibb River Road. Participants camped along the creek line and among the old buildings of the disused station. 'You'll have to go and see the movie Australia if you want to see for yourself what the camping area was like,' jokes Piers, who adds: 'Ultimately the festival was a good vehicle to get the message across to the rangers, but more, to alert and offer encouragement to more senior community members that ranger work is a valuable tool in communities and there are agencies like AQIS that actively engage.'

Quarantine Working Together! to fight bird flu

Keeping exotic diseases out of Australia is no easy feat especially with bird flu abundant in Indonesia. To keep these diseases at bay, AQIS, through the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy, works closely with our northerly neighbours to help manage their quarantine risks.

So when the Australian Government responded to the rapid spread of bird flu throughout many Indonesian provinces, it commissioned AQIS, supported by AusAID, to assist the Indonesian Agricultural Quarantine Agency (IAQA) to manage their quarantine risks regarding bird flu.

In partnership with Indonesia, AQIS implemented the Indonesian Quarantine Strengthening Project (IQSP). The project's key objectives were to:

  • encourage IAQA to apply a risk based approach when developing quarantine policy and allocating resources  
  • encourage better collaboration with other Indonesian government agencies involved in quarantine, with particular reference to bird flu
  • develop IAQA's capacity to develop, deliver and evaluate public awareness campaigns.

Indonesian veterinarians, technical officers and quarantine officials were actively involved in this project with workshops held in many regional areas including Denpasar, Bali; Makassar, South Sulawesi; Gorontalo City, Gorontalo; Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara; Medan, North Sumatra; Pontianak, West Kalimantan; Jakarta, DKI Jakarta; Surabaya, East Java; and Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara.

'This collaboration has provided us with an insight into the work of the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture and helped us develop strong relationships between AQIS and IAQA,' Andrew Moss, acting NAQS program manager said.

Other achievements included holding a national forum—attended by 100 officials from IAQA including the Directorate General of Livestock Services, Department of Home Affairs and Provincial—to discuss bird flu issues; conducting two veterinary policy review meetings to discuss policy recommendations on the quarantine control of bird flu; and implementing a public awareness pilot campaign to demonstrate to local staff how to develop, implement and assess effective public awareness campaigns.

The project, which concluded last December, provided a strong basis for ongoing collaborative work with IAQA. The result is that Australia and Indonesia will continue working together to fight against the spread of bird flu.

Indigenous pastoralists monitor for exotic bluetongue virus

The Northern Territory's first Indigenous–run sentinel cattle herd on Garrithiya Station, near Port Bradshaw, about 60 kilometres southeast of Nhulunbuy, will be set up following an agreement between AQIS and the Gumatj Association. After consultation with the Indigenous Land Corporation and Indigenous Pastoral Program, and eight months of negotiation, formal agreement was reached in August 2008.

The site was chosen by AQIS veterinarian, Joe Schmidt, in consultation with AQIS entomologist, Glenn Bellis, and NT Department of Regional Development, Primary Industry, Fisheries and Resources (RDPIFR) veterinarian and leading bluetongue expert, Lorna Melville AM, as one of the three areas in the Territory at greatest risk for a possible incursion of exotic bluetongue virus.

Sentinel herds are an accurate way of measuring the viruses animals have been exposed to over a period of years. Young animals between three and six months old are chosen as they will have outgrown any disease antibodies inherited from the mother but will have no antibodies of their own. It is then possible, with regular blood testing, to build up an antibody record so it becomes obvious immediately if the animals have been exposed to a particular virus.

Joe Schmidt says: 'The aim of the project is for the Indigenous stockmen to run a midge trap on the station and to regularly take and process blood samples from the herd. Biting midges spread viruses to cattle and the trap will enable us to see what species are present.

'The midges and the blood samples will be taken by the Garrithiya stockmen to the AQIS office in Gove, where they will be packaged and sent on to our laboratory in Darwin. Any midge species that are possible vectors for the disease will then be passed on to RDPIFR vets at Berrimah Farm and the blood samples sent to Australian Animal Health Laboratories in Geelong to be tested for exotic bluetongue viruses and for Surra, a parasite present in countries to the north of Australia that causes a wasting disease in animals.'

According to Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy acting program manager, Andrew Moss, bluetongue is potentially a serious disease in sheep and defining areas free of bluetongue is important in international trade in live cattle to some countries. Sentinel herds are the best tool in establishing whether the disease is present in an area and detecting the entry of new viruses that could adversely affect sheep or impact the export of live cattle to some markets.

Joe visited the station last December to deliver the trap and provide training in blood collection and processing.

The first independently-collected samples arrived in Darwin in January this year.

'The quality of the samples was excellent,' Joe said, 'especially considering the collectors had only limited training. I have high hopes for a long and mutually beneficial association with the Gumatj Association and Garrithiya Station.'

Joe hopes the success of this project may open up opportunities to develop partnerships with other Indigenous pastoralists to run two similar herds in other high–risk areas, one at Oenpelli in northwest Arnhem Land and one in the Gulf of Carpentaria.


Indonesian vets tour Australia

In November 2008, six Indonesian veterinarians from different levels of government (central, provincial and district) conducted a two–week study tour of Australia to observe our decentralised animal health systems. Special reference was made to NSW and its Rural Lands Protection Board (RLPB) system as an example of delivery of veterinary services that might have particular relevance to Indonesia’s decentralised animal health system.

The tour was part of an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR*) project titled 'Improving Veterinary Service Delivery in a Decentralised Indonesia' managed by Dr Helen Scott-Orr of the NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI). The aim was to give vets an understanding of how Australia's animal health system fits together to deliver a high level of national biosecurity as well as effective emergency animal disease response.

There was a special focus on the emergency response arrangements under AUSVETPLAN and how disease surveillance and control strategies are administered by the states. Dr Tristan Jubb, who is a consultant to the project, accompanied the visitors on their NSW and ACT tour of farms, saleyards, abattoirs, veterinary schools, diagnostic laboratories, DPI and RLPB offices, Animal Health Australia, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and AQIS facilities.

The Indonesian vets were very impressed by the excellent networking across the whole system and the strong links between the private, government and university sectors. Their findings are already having an influence back in Indonesia. A very comprehensive and positive report was submitted by them to the Indonesian Ministry of Agriculture, and they will be presenting elements of the report to a national workshop in Bogor, West Java, on progressing the development of an INDOVETPLAN (which will be loosely modeled on AUSVETPLAN).

One of the participants, Dr Agung, has been promoting positive aspects of our system to the Balinese chapter of the Indonesian Veterinary Association and applying some of its principles in combating the current outbreak of rabies in Bali which was confirmed last November. This outbreak is stretching the local resources, demonstrating how much need there is for a clear cost-sharing and decision making system to combat emergency diseases.

More study tours are planned for 2009 and 2010.

*ACIAR is an Australian Government statutory authority that operates as part of Australia's Aid Program within the portfolio of Foreign Affairs and Trade. It contributes to the aid program objectives of advancing Australia’s national interest through poverty reduction and sustainable development.

Did you know…? Importing human remains

Every year, hundreds of bodies of deceased persons (approx 230 in 2008) are brought into Australia. Generally, these are Australians who have died overseas and their bodies are being returned for burial or cremation.

The importation of human remains is managed by AQIS for the Department of Health and Ageing (DOHA). AQIS works closely with DOHA, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and in some cases the Department of Defence to facilitate a swift release of a body.

Human remains imported for burial or cremation are not routinely inspected, therefore informative and complete paperwork helps ensure a smooth transition and release of the body through quarantine. For example, last June AQIS facilitated the arrival of the remains of the Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, one of the Patrons of World Youth Day.

AQIS officers are mindful of the sensitivities surrounding the next of kin when dealing with matters associated with deceased persons. Airport staff follow established work instructions and ensure that a death certificate or an import permit has been issued.

Imported human remains must be accompanied by an official certificate of death, or an extract of an entry in an official register showing the date, place and cause of death. Human remains that are not accompanied by documentation which shows the cause of death require an import permit. This applies to bones or any human remains that are being imported. Where the cause of death is not provided, DOHA identifies conditions that must be complied with to permit the entry of the human remains to Australia.

Not uncommonly, human bones are brought in, mostly as curios but occasionally as returned 'stolen' remains. For more information on bringing human bodies into Australia, visit ICON, AQIS's import conditions database.



Melbourne—First Port for Sun Princess

Before now, cruising the high seas for Victorians has first meant getting on a jet and flying somewhere north. Not any longer. The heritage listed Station Pier in Port Melbourne has been recognised as an ideal facility for cruise ship processing. Before this, the Station Pier Port only hosted coastal visits from vessels cleared in other ports but after a trial in 2007 the pier was recognised for its potential to clear passengers quickly and efficiently.

This means passengers will have similar processes to those at an international airport where they fill out Incoming Passenger Cards (IPCs), make AQIS and Customs declarations and then have their luggage screened. 

The Princess Cruises' Sun Princess is the first cruise ship to take advantage of Station Pier as a first port and to make Melbourne its home. Ratings surveys conducted by Princess Cruises give Melbourne an average embarkation efficiency rate of around 85 per cent—comparable to Sydney and other international ports which have hosted first port vessels for years.

The combination of historical infrastructure, agencies and industry working together, as well as a state government committed to ongoing port infrastructure improvements, gives Melbourne a strong advantage.

The Sun Princess has conducted several trips out of Melbourne already this summer, taking passengers to New Zealand and north around the Pacific Islands. On returning, and after being cleared by the AQIS boarding officer, passengers disembark on the top gangway with hand luggage only and are screened by AQIS detector dogs.

All hold luggage is scanned by AQIS and Customs mobile X-ray vans—an example of how both agencies work in close partnership. Once passengers collect their hold luggage they report to the AQIS and Customs marshalls to present their IPCs. At this point passengers may be directed to the inspection benches for a physical examination of their luggage or close inspection of declared items subject to quarantine.

The operation has been so successful that applications for use of Station Pier are pending for the Sun Princess's sister vessel Dawn Princess, as well as from other service providers.

Meat and vegies result in fines

A passenger who arrived at Perth International Airport in December answered 'NO' to all questions on her Incoming Passenger Card (IPC), including the questions regarding food items. However, the passenger was found to be carrying meat and vegetable products knowing that they were animal, plant or other goods in contravention of the Quarantine Act 1908, and made false or misleading statements in contravention of the Customs Act 1901.

The IPC is a legal document that is completed before arriving in Australia. You must tick 'YES' to declare if you are carrying any food, plant material or animal products as well as any other articles that are covered on the card. All items of food, animal or plant origin must be declared on the IPC for the purpose of inspection by an AQIS officer.

Because the items were undeclared, the passenger was charged and summonsed to court where she was found guilty of importing 1.9 kg of sausage, 2.5 kg of meat, 275 g of hamburger containing meat, and 1.9 kg of chopped vegetable. The passenger was fined $1,500 in quarantine fines, $2,000 in customs fines, and $4,298 in other costs, for a total of $7,798.

To help protect Australia's agricultural industries and unique environment, AQIS officers screen all international flights, international cruise ships, passengers, baggage, mail and cargo using techniques such as X-ray, detector dogs, physical inspection and questioning.

You will not be penalised if goods are declared but they may be taken away from you—anything that presents a disease risk or is found to contain insects or larvae will be withheld for treatment or destruction.

If you have items you don't wish to declare, you can dispose of them in quarantine bins in the airport or cruise terminal.

In signing the IPC, passengers are making a legal declaration and failure to answer all questions truthfully can have serious consequences.


Green light for Exercise Wallaby

Towards the end of last year, approximately 3,500 Singaporean Armed Force (SAF) personnel and their military equipment descended on the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in north Queensland for their annual military training exercise. Waiting for them on arrival were equally formidable AQIS officers ready to conduct quarantine clearance and inspections.

Staged from 3 October to 16 November, the six week Singaporean exercise known as 'Wallaby' saw AQIS officers from South Queensland clear the SAF personnel and additional air cargo through Rockhampton regional airport, 366 military vehicles and 231 containers of equipment arriving on five ships berthing at either Port Alma, Brisbane or Gladstone ports. 

The pre-cleared containers unloaded at Port Alma were externally inspected and cleared to travel to Shoalwater Bay.

Containers unloaded at the Port of Brisbane were externally inspected and released if pre-cleared offshore while the remaining were transported to Gladstone where AQIS officers carried out the internal inspections and cargo clearances.

Planning for the exercise happened well in advance with extensive and on-going coordination and management involving AQIS staff from the region and national office, the SAF and Australian Defence Force representatives.

Preparation comprised off-shore reconnaissance and sending a team of four officers to Singapore for six weeks to pre-clear 76 vehicles, 57 motorbikes, 300 cargo parachutes and 195 containers of military equipment to minimise the risk of entry of exotic pests and diseases into Australia.

'The exercise is testament to the region's capability to come together across geographical locations and multiple programs to deliver services necessary to meet our regulatory obligations, and we’ve done that with flying colours,' said AQIS officer Glen Stewart, Processing Risk and Operations Coordinator for South Queensland.

'It was a tremendous effort by our staff to ensure that all participants, both government and commercial, were able to achieve their desired outcomes while ensuring Australia's biosecurity was not compromised.'

Military personnel and their equipment pose a significant quarantine risk to human, animal and plant health due to the surroundings in which they operate. Military personnel and equipment brought into Australia could be unwitting carriers of a range of exotic pests and diseases that would have devastating effects on Australia’s agricultural industries and the environment. In particular there are high quarantine risks associated with ration packs/meals ready to eat (MREs) which require an import permit prior to arrival.


Live hairy larvae alert AQIS

The Australia's Most Unwanted campaign raises awareness amongst the cargo and shipping industry and frontline staff of the top nine unwanted exotic pests. It is designed for industry to participate in the 'Quarantine–a shared responsibility' initiative to help minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering Australia.

Victorian AQIS officer, Darren Zaina, has proven how effective the campaign is when he successfully identified a live Khapra beetle in a packet of coriander seeds.

'I noticed perfectly rounded borer holes in some of the coriander seed packets. I cut open one of the packets, sieved some of the seeds and found live hairy larvae and beetles, and even dead beetle casings' Darren explained.

'The Australia's Most Unwanted posters on the wall in our office definitely helped me identify this pest.'

The Khapra beetle is featured in the Australia's Most Unwanted campaign as it poses a serious risk to Australia's grain storage industry and could jeopardise our export grain markets. It feeds on dried plant and animal products, with a preference for grain and stored products.

If you find Khapra beetles or any pests featured in the campaign, make sure you SEE. SECURE. REPORT and call AQIS on 1800 020 504.

To order copies of the posters or for more information contact AQIS Communication by email or phone 02 6272 5366.



Bats in the baggage hall

We've heard about bats in the belfry, but bats in the baggage hall was something recent AQIS recruit Trish Pompei in Darwin was quite unprepared for when she came across an interesting souvenir in a passenger's luggage.

'The flight came from Vietnam,' Trish said. 'An Australian family was coming back from holidays and had correctly declared a "small, framed bat" on their incoming passenger card.

I was thinking in terms of a small, framed cricket bat,' she said, 'and was shocked when the bat turned out to be of the animal variety.'

Although the bat could have been brought into Australia if it had undergone professional taxidermy and had proper paperwork, this bat looked as though it had just been dried in the sun according to Trish.

'When I explained the quarantine risks, the people were good about surrendering it,' she says.

The bat has now been subjected to high temperature incineration in accordance with quarantine guidelines and poses no further risk to Australia.

Bats carry the rabies virus which is normally transmitted by a bite or scratch from an infected animal but can also be transmitted via broken skin to a person handling a dead animal. Although vaccination against rabies is available, Australians generally do not need to have this vaccination because Australia is free of the virus—thanks in some part to our strict quarantine regulations. Once an infected person or animal is showing clinical signs, the virus is almost always fatal.

Any animal from overseas—dead or alive—can carry exotic insects or viruses and their importation is strictly regulated.

Before you travel, check ICON for more information on what you can and can't bring to Australia.

ICON is AQIS's import conditions database. It is a simple and convenient way to access information about Australian import conditions for more than 20,000 foreign plant, animal, mineral and human commodities. It can be used to determine if a commodity intended for import to Australia needs a quarantine permit and/or treatment or if there are any other quarantine prerequisites.


Quarantine hits!

AQIS officers noted evidence of an internal feeding insect on an orange while conducting a US citrus inspection of air cargo. The larvae was extracted and sent to AQIS entomologists for formal identification. The findings revealed it as a navel orangeworm (Amyelois transitella), considered a serious exotic pest. The consignment was fumigated for three hours as per AQIS protocol for the detection of internal parasitic feeders.

The value of AQIS technical training was realised when AQIS officer Brian Meehan made an important interception of a significant quarantine pest—black carpenter ants (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) in a fibreglass boat with timber components, Ex USA. Brian realised they could be carpenter ants and delivered the specimens to Victoria's AQIS entomology team for identification as a matter of urgency. Carpenter ants do not actually feed on timber like most timber pests; instead they excavate extensive galleries in timber for their nests which can lead to serious structural damage of timber in service over time if infestations are left untreated. The ants were fumigated.

A significant seizure at Australia Post's Melbourne Mail Gateway Facility was made recently by AQIS officer Maree Whitehead and her detector dog, Amber. Maree and Amber detected an express mail item from France which contained bulbs, soil and wooden pots, all posing a significant quarantine risk. 150 million items of international mail are sent to Australia each year. AQIS officers work with X-ray machines and detector dogs to screen all of the incoming mail and can intercept up to 80,000 high-risk items each year. The intended recipient of these items has been contacted to determine if the goods are to be destroyed or returned overseas.



Last reviewed: 17 Aug 2009
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