1. Weed Management Society of SA Formed October 1999 Aims to minimise the economic, environmental and social impacts of weeds in South Australia Has 150 diverse members: – govt. (state/local), university, industry & community – agricultural, environmental & sectors – researchers, managers, volunteers, landowners, students

2. Key Points The WMSSA wishes to raise the following issues: Conflicts of interest Resources Surveillance and incursion response

3. Weedy conflicts of interest The problem: Invasive economic plants Economic benefits (often short-term) to the –garden industry –pastoralists and graziers –horticulturalists VS. Economic and environmental costs (long- term) when some plants become weeds

4. Solutions: Essential that legislation recognise and provide mechanisms to deal with such conflicts of interest –not grow –grow with strict management –grow with no restrictions Prefer a consistent, national approach –Use EPBC Act for a national list of prohibited garden invasives Weedy conflicts of interest

5. The problem: Inadequate govt. response relative to the scale of the problem Social cost dimensions means that public funding is essential Weed issues are long term issues SA govt. funding inadequate –Animal & Plant Control ~$3.5m p.a. (still at 1991 levels) –handful of govt. weed researchers in SA Resourcing weed management

7. Solutions: Consistent govt. investment in weed management across Australia –commensurate with the cost of the problem Strategic, effective, long-term investment across the spectrum of the stages of invasion: Prevention Eradication/Containment Integrated weed management Resourcing weed management

8. The problem: No pro-active approach to preventing new weed problems in SA Prevention is clearly the most cost effective means of dealing with the weed problem Majority of future weeds are here already But SA has not put in place a formal system to detect and respond to new weeds Key issue is $ to respond to new incursions, especially for environmental weeds Prevention & Surveillance

9. Solutions: Adequate Commonwealth funds to maintain effective border protection –for AQIS and Biosecurity Australia A Southern Australia Quarantine Strategy –formal development and maintenance of surveillance systems with trained botanists –funds to actually respond to incursions Prevention & Surveillance

10. Conclusion Invasive species represent a persistent threat to Australia: policy and action, therefore need to also be persistent The opportunity needs to be taken to develop nationally consistent policies and investment to deal with the invasive species risk The Amendment to the EPBC Act is a welcome move to raise the legislative profile of invasive species in Australia –see our submission for specific issues with the Amendment