Being employed as a seasonal worker in Tasmania, (i.e. a person who lives in or visits Tasmania to undertake short term horticultural-related work during the harvest season) means that you have an important role to play in helping to protect your place of employment, the broader industry and the state from the impact of pests, weeds and disease.
Listed below are some biosecurity actions you can take to meet your General Biosecurity Duty (GBD) and to make the properties you work on - and Tasmania - biosecurity safe.
Important Biosecurity Actions
Biosecurity vigilance (also known as Notification of a Biosecurity Event)
- If you SEE something on the farm or production site where you work that is unusual or of biosecurity concern, such as potential exotic plant/animal pests, weeds or diseases, or invasive animal species;
- SECURE the site by restricting access (and limiting movement in the case of suspected animal diseases) AND take a photo, noting the location; and then
- REPORT it to Biosecurity Tasmania as soon as possible - see reporting details below.
Please note: Taking samples in the field may increase the risk of spreading the biosecurity risk, so Biosecurity Tasmania will provide further instruction regarding possible sample collection and submission.
Before arriving in Tasmania - please check what you can and cannot bring into Tasmania.
Before arriving at a property contact the property owner or farm manager and determine whether there are any specific biosecurity protocols that you will need to follow. Be ready to provide the owner or farm manager with a list of recent farms where you have worked.
Leave farm gates as you found them (i.e. open or closed), unless otherwise instructed by the property owner or manager, or signage. Report any damage to fences to the property owner/manager to prevent the escape or entry of livestock or other animals.
Ensure that your shoes, clothes and vehicle (as well as any camping equipment) are clean on arrival and free from soil and plant material (such as weed seeds).
Check with the landowner or farm manager before bringing any fruit, vegetables or other plant or animal material onto the property.
When you leave the property – make sure your vehicle and equipment are cleaned (if on-site facilities are available) or at a minimum ensure you clean down your vehicle and equipment before entering the next property. Carrying a basic, personal biosecurity kit is a good way of decontaminating vehicles, clothing and equipment. Recommended contents and instructions on putting a kit together can be found at the Farm Biosecurity website.
- Wash any clothes and hats worn on-farm and check footwear, clothing, hair and hats for weed seeds and other plant material, before moving onto another property.
Contact and reporting
To contact Biosecurity Tasmania for general information or to report a suspected pest, weed or disease:
Phone: (03) 6165 3777
Alternatively, for reporting pests, weeds or diseases, you can call the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline (1800 084 881) or the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline (1800 675 858).
Stay up to date on Biosecurity in Tasmania
Subscribing to get Tasmanian Biosecurity Advisories is the best way you can keep yourself up-to-date and fully informed about Tasmanian biosecurity issues. Our Advisories cover topics such as changes or proposed changes to Tasmania’s import regulations, animal health and welfare, plant health, forthcoming regulation reviews and opportunities for public comment, new or emerging pest/disease risks and a range of other matters related to Tasmania’s biosecurity
Please note that this information contains minimum recommendations only. The GBD requires a person dealing with biosecurity matter or a carrier to take all reasonable and practicable measures to prevent, eliminate or minimise any biosecurity risk associated with the dealing. Such measures may not be specified in any regulations, guidelines or other official publications.