It is with some relief that the National Management Group (NMG) has approved the Varroa Response Transition to Management (T2M) Plan. An historical decision requiring all affected parties to the Deed to agree with the proposed plan and budget. The CCEPP and NSW DPI are working to have a publicly available document detailing the T2M that we can distribute through industry. We expect this to become available in the coming weeks.

Much of the success in getting the T2M approved was due to the hard work and behind the scenes phone calls by Danny our CEO and Bianca. A big thank you from industry for the hard yards.

We are aware that several beekeepers from NSW are saying ‘about time’, and this is understandable, however delivering outcomes under such a large response with government agencies and several affected pollination dependent industry peak bodies across the country is a slow and deliberate process which is frustrating to most involved.

As Chair and on behalf of the AHBIC executive I extend a big thank you to our CEO, Danny and also our Varroa Coordinator, Bianca, for getting a T2M plan over the line. This is the first T2M plan under the plant deed to be extended beyond 12 months under the special circumstances clause. As such the plan will extend the rollout of activities beyond 12 months to 24 months. The agreed upper limit of expenditure for the entire response inclusive of T2M will not exceed $100 million, only the length of time in which to carry out the activities has been extended.

This fantastic result required intense lobbying, by our CEO, to jurisdictions and pollination dependent industries who now understand the need for an extended plan and common sense prevailed. We now have a T2M where all Australian beekeepers have access to education, extension and several other important activities to transition to living with Varroa.

Bianca Giggins will continue to play an important role in the T2M rollout, remaining within AHBIC, we look forward to more great work from Bianca over the next period.

The levy sub-committee will be busy working on recommendations for our industry to repay the Federal government the estimated $1.1 million for our industries share of the cost for the varroa response. AHBIC’s request to the commonwealth to have the debt underwritten for 10 years has been granted allowing our industry to pay down the debt over time.

Once the T2M plan is up and fully functioning then AHBIC will continue concentrating on our other priorities. This includes AHBIC’s strategic plan, a review of AHBIC structure, lobbying of government on imported honey, funding for sentinel hives and continued and improved access to natural resources.

The AHBIC 2024 AGM will be in Townsville on 10th July, one day prior to the QBA conference due to a lack of venue availability immediately after the QBA conference. Delegates from our 10 member bodies will be in attendance and anyone can attend as an observer. Observer registration will be on our website or alternatively email AHBIC. AHBIC welcomes observers to attend and see what our member bodies identify as industries key issues and priorities, which AHBIC will concentrate on in the year ahead.

Stephen Targett
Chair