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Canberra ‘Rally’ Campaign Attempts to Convince Government to Change Tune
In one of the more publicised efforts of recent years by the Australian beekeeping industry to draw attention to an issue, almost 200 beekeepers from across all States gathered in Canberra on 1st and 2nd March. The “Campaign’ (a more positive word than ‘protest’ or ‘rally’) met just outside Canberra on 1st March to hear a briefing on the issues around the decision on January31 by the Asian bee National Management Group that it ‘was technically not feasible to eradicate the Asian bee from Queensland’ and that the surveillance programme and eradication efforts would cease after 31st March.
The Campaign was put together in a very short time (2 weeks) by a dedicated group of industry supporters, led by Jodie Goldsworthy and Max Whitten, and the renowned rumour mill for once worked in favour of the industry, with participation from Qld, NSW, Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia, WA. and the ACT. One of the reasons for this is that the rumour mill was backed up by the formation of an excellent website, which not only contained beekeepers registration forms, but also included background and fact sheets to educate both beekeepers and the public. Prior to the two days in Canberra, fact packs were sent to every Federal MP and Senator.
At the briefing, a number of speakers gave presentations on different aspects and issues around the Asian bee incursion.
Jodie Goldsworthy
· Jodie Goldsworthy outlined the development of the campaign, giving particular thanks to the roles played by industry stalwarts Max Whitten and Gretchen Wheen. In discussions with Trevor Weatherhead, it was decided that personal meetings with individual MP’s would not carry enough weight to force a change of attitude on the part of the Government. Rather, a campaign to gain public support and awareness was needed. Within the past two weeks, support had been obtained from many beekeeping industry companies and businesses, as well as the NFF, the Victorian Farmers Federation, the Australian Food and Grocery Council, the Australian Institute of Food Professionals, Buttercup Bakeries, Go Troppo Fruit Markets, Ziggy's Garden Fresh, Simply Fresh Fruit Markets, Campbells Cash & Carry – Fyshwick and Cool Running Transport. Jodie stressed that this was to be a non-confrontational campaign. Distinctive polo shirts and hats had been designed and produced to publicize the message of
the campaign
Max Whitten
· Max Whitten spoke on the meeting that had been held earlier in the day with Joe Ludwig, Commonwealth Minister for Agriculture. Ludwig had not been supportive of the concept of public funding for the eradication programme. By contrast, Senator Christine Milne (Greens) had been extremely supportive. Max then discussed the expected impact of the Asian bee on the Australian honeybee industry, and upon the Australian environment (both human and natural.)
Denis Anderson
· Denis Anderson explained the significance of the Java strain of Apis cerana (the strain in Cairns), placing emphasis on the poor traits of the strain which make it unsuitable for domestic honey production and/or pollination. With production of more colonies that are smaller in size, it would be expected to displace and compete with honeybees and native fauna. It will have a major impact on the environment, and beekeepers will have to change the entrance openings to hives as well as hive ventilation, to enable honeybees to compete with the Asian bee. The package market will be affected, and cerana drones could mate with mellifera queens, making them non-viable. They will not pollinate large-scale monocultures as well as mellifera do, and there were implications in their ability to host Varroa. Denis expected the Asian bee to have a greater negative impact than European wasps.
Warren Taylor
· Warren Taylor spoke on the expected impacts on the package bee market and live bee exports.
Trevor Monson
· Trevor Monson addressed the likely impacts upon the pollination industry, especially in relation to almond pollination
· Terry Ryan spoke on the expected economic impact of the Asian bee, particularly in relation to human health (more likelihood of stings to the public)
Lindsay Bourke
· AHBIC Chairman Lindsay Bourke congratulated Jodie and Max on their organisation of the campaign, and stressed the need for the industry to not only present a united front , but to treat this as a beginning of efforts to convince our local MP’s of the need to change the Governments attitude
· Trevor Weatherhead, who has been the beekeeping industry’s spokesperson on the quarantine and eradication fronts in Queensland, outlined the efforts made to date to eradicate the Asian bee, and pointed out that WE ARE ONLY GOING TO GET ONE CHANCE! If the Government gives up now, the Asian bee is here forevever.
· Jodie then outlined the plans for the next day, with a delegation of beekeepers and chosen State representatives, together with non-industry supporters such as the NFF, to host a presentation session within Parliament House. The remainder of supporters of the Campaign would host an all-day free ‘breakfast’ for the public, with tea, coffee, hot crumpets/toast and Australian honey, as well as fresh fruits pollinated by bees, being served and showcased. Permits had been obtained for a convoy of bee trucks to drive through the Canberra CBD and around Parliament House at lunchtime. Over 40 trucks had been registered for this event, which would draw public attention to the Campaign – an objective that was definitely achieved!!!
Beekeepers united against common foes – Asian bees and the Federal Government
Beekeeper support at Canberra
Breakfast at Parliament House
Max Whitten being interviewed by Georgie Oakeshott, journalist for the Parliamentary in-house magazine ‘About The House’
The key message ‘Food Security needs BEE SECURITY’
Beekeepers make their presence felt on State Circle, Canberra
Part of the long convoy – air horns at full blast!!
Beekeepers make themselves heard!!
As the convoy rolls on...
And on......
And the result of all this effort?
What did the campaign aim to achieve?
The campaign aimed to get a commitment from the Australian government to:
1. Immediately allocate $10million over two years to eradicate the Asian bee in Australia.
2. Implement the recommendations of the 2008 More than Honey report by allocating an additional $50m annually to maintain healthy bee populations to secure pollination services.
3. Provide funding for the establishment and operation of the Co-operative Research Centre for Bee Research and Food Security.
At the time of writing (immediately after the rally), there is obviously a great deal of uncertainty about whether any of these aims would have been achieved. Minister for Agriculture Joe Ludwig presented himself as being poorly informed, with a less than basic understanding of the scientific complexities of the issues. He was not very receptive to the delegation which met with him, stating that it was a Government principle that industries which benefit from eradication programmes should foot the bill (conveniently ignoring the fact that the Government funded the Equine Influenza eradication programme to the tune of some $340million dollars – butsilly me, I forget, there are big tax dollars earned for the Government from betting on racing!).
What was achieved was a great deal of publicity for the industry’s cause. The delegation that made the presentation inside Parliament House reported a steady flow of visits from MP’s and Senators interested to learn more about the issues. In some cases they sent their staff, and in one instance the staffer left, to return soon afterwards with his MP.
In addition, there were a number of news articles in The Canberra Times – at least two the day before the rally, and one the day after. ABC Radio gave a report on ‘Country Hour’ the following day. Max Whitten was interviewed by Georgie Oakeshott for an article for the ‘About The House’, the Parliamentary in-house magazine.
Outside Parliament House, visits from the public were light, even though the ‘breakfast’ had been well-publicised in the articles in The Canberra Times. The presentation by the beekeepers was excellent. However, the bee truck convoy certainly attracted attention. It made enough noise!
But What Next?
Beekeepers and others concerned about food security, the environment and public amenity, have now raised awareness with politicians of all persuasions about the serious consequences for Australia if the Asian Bee is not eradicated. Much time, effort, money and words have gone into the campaign. But we need to maintain the pressure until the Government finds the will and the funds to revive the eradication program.
The campaign team is working across the political spectrum to ensure that all are fully informed of the likely spread and impact of the Asian Bee. Given the resolve and the resources, the Asian Bee can be eliminated. Advice from DAFF to Minister Ludwig is that the Asian Bee wont spread into temperate areas; and that we are overstating the importance of Asian Bee. Minister Ludwig told Senator Christine Milne that beekeepers weren't pulling their weight. That's demonstrably untrue; and the Minister needs to be reminded politely but firmly that it is his job to protect food security and it is for the Minister for the Environment to preserve biodiversity.
Updates on progress will be posted to the campaign website. We need to actively engage all State Associations and amateur beekeeper groups to contact their local members and to send polite but firm messages to Minister Joe Ludwig (Agriculture) and Minister Tony Burke (Environment) at the Federal level. Send emails but phone their offices wherever this is possible. The same goes for State Government Ministers, as this problem will affect ALL States. Wherever possible, we should galvanise pollination-dependent primary producers and landcare groups to join with us in urging eradication of the Asian Bee.
Below are contact details from which you can extract just what you need. It is also worth contacting your home State Minister for Agriculture, as they will then be putting pressure on their Chief Vets to reverse the decision to stop the eradication.
If you google Christine Milne and Asian Bees you should come across the various statements she makes which fully back the observation that it should not be left to beekeepers to finance the eradication and to persuade others to chip in. Beekeepers are more than paying their way. On Wednesday afternoon, Minister Ludwig told Christine that beekeepers were not paying their way; and that they were exaggerating the problem.
He is wrong on both scores; and you should encourage beekeepers to ring his office and that of Tony Burke (who was Minister for Agriculture from Nov 2007 until late 2010 and did nothing; and now as Minister for Environment he continues to do nothing).
Christine Milne said that emails are fine but what really gets their attention is the phone running off the hook. Get your colleagues on the blower. Bear in mind that politicians hate phone calls – they have to respond!
You should also list the campaign website http://www.securefoodsavebees.com/
We have to convince the politicians to oppose the beurocracy and reverse the decision.
