Celebrating 21 Years of NAQS

July 2010 marked the 21st anniversary of the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQs). The national program is administered by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) and reports to the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

The NAQS program conducts animal and plant health surveillance on over 7,300 kilometres of Australia’s northern coastal area. NAQS employs staff based in Broome, Darwin, Nhulunbuy, Weipa, Bamaga, Cairns and the Torres Strait. Over 80 per cent of the NAQS Torres Strait workforce is Indigenous, and with their mainland colleagues, they work with people from over 85 language groups.

In 2010 NAQS is celebrating 21 years of service. Importantly, it will also recognise the outstanding efforts and achievements made by our NAQS heroes.

Significant events in the NAQS program

Before NAQS

1988

• The report into Aerial Littoral Surveillance from the 1987 Lindsay review of quarantine in Australia is published by the Department of Primary Industries and Energy and considered by Cabinet. As a result of the Lindsay review the government commits to establish a program (NAQS) to deal with the unique risks associated with Australia’s northern coastline.

1987

• A major review of quarantine in Australia is conducted by a committee headed by Professor David Lindsay. An interim report is published by the Quarantine Review Committee, detailing the unique problems associated with Australia’s northern coastline and its proximity to Papua New Guinea and the Torres Strait islands.

1985

• The Torres Strait Treaty takes effect in February, defining the two main boundaries – the Seabed Jurisdiction Line and the Fisheries Jurisdiction Lines – as well as a ‘protected zone’ between Australia and Papua New Guinea.

1978

• The Torres Strait Treaty, an agreement between Australia and the Independent State of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is signed at Papua New Guinea House in Sydney on the 18^th of December.

1908

• Quarantine Act 1908 receives royal assent, providing a national approach to quarantine for the first time after State Premiers agree to hand over administration of quarantine to the Commonwealth in 1906.

NAQS established 1989

2010

• 2010 marks 21 years of continuous biosecurity services delivered by the NAQS program.

2008

• Vegetable leaf miner is detected by NAQS on Warraber Island. Later detections occur on Yorke and Mabuiag (2010).

2006

• Mango gall midge is detected by NAQS on Darnley Island in May. The pest continues to be detected on Mango trees throughout Torres Strait and the northern Peninsula area. Ongoing surveillance for this pest continues (2010).
• The NAQS program is tasked with implementing enhanced surveillance and monitoring measures in relation to the biosecurity risks posed by foreign fishing vessel activity in northern Australia. This work is supported by increased engagement with Indigenous on biosecurity support measures, and a targeted communications campaign to raise biosecurity awareness amongst remote coastal communities. 

2004

• The Australian Government provides specific funding to NAQS to support regular surveys for highly pathogenic strains of avian influenza in bird populations across the northern coastal areas of Australia.
• Target weed Croton hirtus identified at Scherger RAAF Base during a NAQS survey, triggering a localised containment and eradication program funded by the Department of Defence (ongoing 2010).

2001

• NAQS botanist identifies target weed Limnocharis flava (yellow burrhead) at Cairns in May, triggering a nationally-funded eradication program (ongoing 2010).
• NAQS plant pathologist detects target pathogen grape vine rust in suburban Darwin during July. An eradication program is implemented and later in July 2007 the NT is declared free of this plant pest.

2000

• An Aboriginal Communications Strategy is enacted leading to the employment of a full time Aboriginal Liaison Officer in Darwin and an undertaking to develop formal relationships with Land Councils.

1999

• The containment strategy for exotic fruit flies in the Torres Strait is modified to include pre-emptive male spraying on Boigu, Dauan, Saibai and Darnley. This action effectively eradicates papaya fruit fly each year from the top western islands, where it had been established since 1993.

1998

• Black Sigatoka is detected at Bamaga during a NAQS survey triggering a successful QDPI eradication program.
• The presence of a nest of Asian honeybees is confirmed in Darwin and a successful surveillance and eradication program is subsequently developed during June.
• Sentinel pigs to identify Japanese encephalitis are established in July and offshore monitoring for other diseases commences.
• A member of the public notifies NAQS of a potential quarantine risk. This report leads to the detection of the target weed Mikania micrantha at Mission Beach (outside the NAQS zone) and triggers a national eradication program that is still ongoing (2010).

1997

• NAQS survey activities detect Spiralling whitefly and mango leafhopper at Weipa in July. The detection results in the establishment of the Coen Information Centre on the only road leading into and out of Cape York to limit southwards vehicular movement of pests.

1996

• An outbreak of Black Sigatoka disease of bananas in Weipa triggers a successful eradication program.
• Establishment of the Torres Strait Fruit Fly Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) incorporating representatives of NAQS, the Qld Department of Primary Industries (QDPI) and external specialists during June. The TAP focuses on developing and implementing a “Long Term Containment Strategy for Fruit Flies in Torres Strait”.

1995

• An independent scientific review of NAQS, chaired by Professor Malcolm Nairn, is commissioned by AQIS. The report, The Nairn-Muirhead Review, confirms the value of NAQS’s contribution to biosecurity in northern Australia and leads to an increase in NAQS program activities and resourcing.
• A staged transition of responsibility for NAQS service delivery begins, moving from State/Territory authorities to the Commonwealth.
• Spiralling whitefly is detected at Seisia near the tip of Cape York Peninsula during a NAQS plant health survey in January.
• An outbreak of papaya fruit fly near Cairns is confirmed costing the mango industry approximately $33 million. NAQS provides scientific support in the early stages of the outbreak reducing the extent of the incursion. The detection triggered a successful, multi-million dollar eradication program that takes four years.

1994

• Siam weed is detected at Bingil Bay, North Queensland in July 1994. A five year eradication program follows and after numerous extensions is currently ongoing.

1993

• The Asian honey bee (Apis cerana) is detected in Torres Strait for the first time and becomes established on Boigu, Saibai, and Dauan Islands. The eradication of this pest is considered unfeasible because of the proximity of these islands to PNG.
• In March, exotic papaya fruit fly, Bactrocera papayae, is trapped on Boigu, Dauan, Saibai and Darnley islands in the Torres Strait, sparking an intensive collaborative eradication program.

1992

• Sampling starts for migratory birds for target diseases, such as Newcastle disease, avian influenza and Japanese encephalitis.

1991

• Spiralling whitefly detected on Boigu Island during NAQS plant health survey. It subsequently spread to most inhabited Torres Strait Islands but its impacts were mitigated by a biological control program using a parasitic wasp.

1990

• NAQS appoints its first veterinarian officers, John Curran (WA), and Andrew von Berky (QLD).
• Judy Grimshaw is appointed as NAQS’s first entomologist, closely followed by Barbara Waterhouse, as NAQS’s first botanist. Both are based in Queensland.
• Spiralling whitefly observed in Western Province (of PNG) coastal villages in November. 

1989

• Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) Program is established. The program receives funding from the Federal Government and is operated by the Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory governments.
• The first NAQS coordinator, Colin Fish, is appointed and remains in the role until 1994.
• The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service begins to conduct surveys in Papua New Guinea, Irian Jaya, and the easternmost province of Indonesia adjacent to PNG.
• NAQS first field officers are appointed: Torres Strait officers Ron Enosa and Ted Mosby (later the first Anglican Bishop of the Torres Strait). These appointments are quickly followed by the appointment of Bamaga officer, Jackson Sailor.
• Kevin Hyde, NAQS’s first plant pathologist is appointed in Queensland.