New mega-quarantine station - bird imports?

[SamDavis]

At our finch club meeting last night there was talk with regards the new Melbourne quarantine station. I understand the new facility will replace all existing facilities (spotswood, eastern creek, etc.) Anyway there was talk from ABA delegates that it may prove possible to import birds through this facility. Apparentlty this was discussed at the previous ABA meeting (I don't have minutes as yet) but sounds hopeful.

Anyone out in the ether have further information? Although probably more likely to be gossip at this stage!

[roma9009]

Yes there was something in talking birds last month about it

[jusdeb]

Would be nice to see some new birds / blood come into the country legally .

[Myzomela]

It is one thing to have a suitable quarantine facility.

It is totally a different thing to have bird imports start again.

It will be interesting to see what eventuates, but I've heard from the aquarium trade that they are thinking of doing away with the quarantine facilities for fish & instead allow retail aquariums to import and do their own quarantine- all to do with less staffing & lowering costs for AQIS.

Our country's biosecurity is really being put at risk, I fear-

[Danny]

It will be interesting to see what eventuates, but I've heard from the aquarium trade that they are thinking of doing away with the quarantine facilities for fish & instead allow retail aquariums to import and do their own quarantine- all to do with less staffing & lowering costs for AQIS.

This is already done - quarantine stations are already present in backyards and the backs of shops for many aquarium shops. I've been to some where you select your fish from the recent imports, pay for them and they give you a call when they are ready three weeks later. In that time they have done nothing to them except record (or not record) deaths.

[casehulsebosch]

That is exactly how it works here in NZ as well Danny. One of my good friends have a fortnightly importation of fish from Singapore and also regular importations from Germany.
Their own licenced quarantine quarters, registration of death and monitoring by MAF - Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. Been running for some years now.

cheers, Case

[VR1Ton]

It will be interesting to see what eventuates, but I've heard from the aquarium trade that they are thinking of doing away with the quarantine facilities for fish & instead allow retail aquariums to import and do their own quarantine- all to do with less staffing & lowering costs for AQIS.

This is already done.

And has been now for ocer 10 years, infact marine fish have only been quarantinded for about the last 15 or so years, before that, it was inspected at the airport for banned species, then it could go straight out the door to the public.

[jusdeb]

Betta are quarantined from Thailand in a pet shop by the one lady ...big job considering she has to work with water from a third world country .
I know she does at least 2 or 3 water changes in the time she has them .

And why set up a quarantine station if not to import ??? Theres a lot of talk of imports being allowed again so why wouldn't one assume its on the cards ?

[GregH]

It's hopeful to think that importation might happen one day. Having searched the internet I see the ABC reports that this new facility will be built at Mickleham and will be opened in 2015. An earlier report in the HeraldSun claims the Agriculture minister says that the "centre is expected to process thousands of cats and dogs and hundreds of birds and horses". Looks hopeful but when you go to the DAFF site hope of bird entry amounts to "fertile eggs for the domestic poultry industry". According to a Federal Government site the budget for construction and operation for the first 7 years is $379.9 million.

[AMCA26]

Hope i get on that job to install all the cabinet work etc. $$$$$