Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00157:body:0:p18
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2019L00157
Segment Type: other
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Character Range: 84595–90758

initiative is needed to address this problem and prevent further irreversible assemblage changes to ecological communities from the loss of vulnerable species. Major research projects are expensive to fund, so a cooperative approach that includes government, philanthropic and corporate funding is necessary.

         In addition to the overriding requirement to mitigate the threat and develop a control, there is a need to evaluate the efficacy of existing management measures. As humans are a major vector of the pathogen, social research in this area is also necessary.

         Research is needed to:
•       better understand the Phytophthora genus
•       improve the use of phosphite to control Phytophthora dieback
•       assist native plant resistance to the pathogen (through selective breeding or gene manipulation)
•       develop methodologies for long-term preservation of vulnerable species with a view to possible restoration of those species to ecological communities in the future
•       understand how to encourage behaviour change to minimise spread by humans.

Table 4: Objective 4 actions

Action                                                                                                                                                          Responsibility                                  Priority        Time frame   Outcomes                                                                                                                                                                                  Estimate of resources required
Action 4.1                                                                                                                                                      Australian Government and state and territory   High priority   Ongoing      An understanding of the existing science identifies gaps in knowledge and informs decisions on research priorities.                                                                       $100,000 for a review to identify gaps.
                                                                                                                                                                governments; research organisations
Undertake a thorough review of the science on Phytophthora biology, epidemiology, prioritisation and its implications for management of Phytophthora dieback.                                                                                Collaborative applied research projects to test and improve plant species resistance in the field and management of the pathogen, including eradication methods and biocontrol options.   $250,000–$500,000 per research project.

Undertake further or new research on:

  •    developing new and effective treatments for the disease
  that minimise collateral impacts (including potential off- target impacts of phosphite application)

Action                                                                                                                                                                                  Responsibility                                                              Priority          Time frame            Outcomes                                                                                                                                                                         Estimate of resources required
  •    eradication methods for a variety of soil types

  •    techniques to develop resistance and resilience in vulnerable species and communities.
Action 4.2                                                                                                                                                                              Australian Government and state and territory                               High priority     Short term; ongoing   Exploration of options to form funding partnerships.                                                                                                                             $150,000 for a 6–12 month project to investigate new opportunities and initiate partnerships.
                                                                                                                                                                                        governments; research organisations; industry; philanthropists; community
Encourage new partnerships (e.g. through the                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Approaches to seek corporate funding for research into the development of an alternative treatment to phosphite.
Australian Research Council, forestry, mining and nursery industries, philanthropists) to support the funding of research relating to the management of Phytophthora dieback.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Initiation of new partnerships.
Action 4.3                                                                                                                                                                              Australian Government and state and territory                               Medium priority   Medium term           Development of improved management techniques following publication of material on factors affecting pathogen distribution and expression.                                       $250,000–$500,000 per research project.
                                                                                                                                                                                        governments; research organisations; industry
Increase understanding of pathogen distribution and expression, and factors affecting this (including climate