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Plant diseases deal done
11 Jun 2004
After three years of negotiation, Australia's plant industries and governments have agreed to a new deal to share the costs of fighting pest and disease outbreaks. The deal mirrors one developed in the livestock industry in which industry and governments would split the costs according to the severity of an outbreak.
Under the draft plant deal, up to 78 potential pests and diseases have been placed in four categories, ranging from those confined to industry to ones with national implications. The funding split starts at 80:20, moves up through 50:50 and 20:80, then 100 per cent government-funded if there are serious environmental and health threats.
The 27 members of Plant Health Australia, including the nine state, territory and federal governments, must now ratify the plan.
In a related move, PHA members have also agreed on the Plant Plan, which details the roles of governments and industry if there's an emergency pest/disease outbreak. It's the equivalent of the livestock Ausvet plan.
Weekly Times, 9/6/04, page 7.
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