February 2019—Steering Committee meeting
On Wednesday 20 February 2019, the Steering Committee for the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program—South East Queensland (the Program) participated in a workshop on the review of the Ten Year Plan. Items considered included community engagement, planned broad-scale treatment, planned targeted treatment, self-treatment, responsive treatment, remote sensing surveillance, planned targeted surveillance, movement controls, proof of freedom and preventing re-infestation.
The Steering Committee met for the quarterly meeting on Thursday, 21 February 2019.
The attendees at the Steering Committee meeting were:
| Name | Position/Area |
|---|---|
| Wendy Craik | Independent Chair |
| Josephine Laduzko | Australian Government |
| John Robertson | Queensland |
| Scott Charlton | New South Wales (on behalf of Bruce Christie) |
| Michael Rosier | Victoria |
| John van Schagen | Western Australia |
During its meeting, the Steering Committee:
- endorsed the revised strategic direction for the Ten Year Plan to incorporate the extension of the Western Boundary and the funding realignment
- considered the National Biosecurity website would be an ideal portal to host the NRIFAEP Steering Committee webpage
- considered the comments/feedback provided by the Scientific Advisory Group (SAG) on:
- remote sensing
- treatment of the western boundary
- treatment plan
- scientific principles for movement controls
- movement controls and industry – nurseries
- self-treatment by landowners
- treatment protocols
- considered the feedback provided by the Risk Management Sub-Committee including the revised Risk Management Plan and the Risk Register
- reviewed the Terms of Reference and agreed to the amendments.
The Steering Committee also noted:
- the General Manager’s update in relation to the Program, including:
- the Remote Sensing surveillance Project update
- the 2017-18 Annual Report and Quarterly Report for 2018-19 update
- the Brisbane Airport update
- the Biosecurity Protocol—treatment and sampling protocols
- the program’s financial report presenting the financial performance of the Program for the period 1 July 2018–31 December 2018
- the implications of the Western Boundary strategy including budget issues
- that advice from SAG on Proof of Freedom will be provided to the Steering Committee in the May 2019 meeting.
The Steering Committee will next meet in May 2019.
