Dr Norman Swan to give keynote address at biosecurity symposium

We’re excited to announce Dr Norman Swan as a keynote speaker for the 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium.
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We’re excited to announce Dr Norman Swan as a keynote speaker for the 2nd Australian Biosecurity Symposium, taking place on the Gold Coast from 3-5 May 2022.

The symposium, proudly hosted by Animal Health Australia, the Invasive Species Council, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions and Plant Health Australia, provides the ideal platform to explore how to transform Australia’s biosecurity systems to better protect our economy, environment and way of life.

Dr Norman Swan is one of Australia’s most well-respected health journalists, with an international career spanning more than three decades. A past Gold Walkley winner, Dr Swan has shone a spotlight on public health issues across shows such as RN’s Health Report, ABC’s 7.30 Report, Four Corners and Coronacast – a daily podcast on the coronavirus – and will be presenting on our session theme “Mainstreaming biosecurity: turning buzzwords into a way of life”.

In his keynote address, Dr Swan will share his experiences and knowledge in ‘mainstreaming’ important messages to a broad audience – bridging the gap from awareness to practice change.

His address will provide delegates with key takeaways on how we can mainstream the importance of biosecurity practices, bringing about positive and sustained engagement from the broader population.

Australia’s biosecurity system faces unprecedented pressure. To address this pressure, strong leadership and innovation is essential.

Abstract deadline extended

The abstract submission deadline for the symposium has been extended, you will now have until Friday 28 January to submit your abstract. 

We are looking for those who are inspired to influence the direction of Australia’s future biosecurity system, share research and innovation, explore outside-of-the-box thinking and engage in challenging discussions that stimulate debate and energy across the biosecurity collective.

Send in your abstract to symposium@animalhealthaustralia.com.au or complete the form here.

Submissions close 5pm Friday 28 January 2022. 

Sponsorship

Sponsorship packages are selling out fast! Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join keynote speaker Dr Norman Swan and various delegates from across eight of Australia’s key agricultural, government and community sectors – including some of the most innovative minds and influential players.

View our range of sponsorship, exhibition and promotional opportunities on offer that will allow you to network with key stake holders and showcase your products and services from the symposium website.

Registration

With more exciting keynote announcements to come, now is the time secure your registration at the early bird rate!

Contact the Australian Biosecurity Symposium Events Team at symposium@animalhealthaustralia.com.au or on (02) 6232 5522.

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    Dear Project Team,

    [YOUR PERSONALISED MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE.] 

    I support the amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan to allow our incredible National Parks staff to use aerial shooting as one method to rapidly reduce feral horse numbers. I want to see feral horse numbers urgently reduced in order to save the national park and our native wildlife that live there.

    The current approach is not solving the problem. Feral horse numbers have rapidly increased in Kosciuszko National Park to around 18,000, a 30% jump in just the past 2 years. With the population so high, thousands of feral horses need to be removed annually to reduce numbers and stop our National Park becoming a horse paddock. Aerial shooting, undertaken humanely and safely by professionals using standard protocols, is the only way this can happen.

    The government’s own management plan for feral horses states that ‘if undertaken in accordance with best practice, aerial shooting can have the lowest negative animal welfare impacts of all lethal control methods’.

    This humane and effective practice is already used across Australia to manage hundreds of thousands of feral animals like horses, deer, pigs, and goats.

    Trapping and rehoming of feral horses has been used in Kosciuszko National Park for well over a decade but has consistently failed to reduce the population, has delayed meaningful action and is expensive. There are too many feral horses in the Alps and not enough demand for rehoming for it to be relied upon for the reduction of the population.

    Fertility control as a management tool is only effective for a small, geographically isolated, and accessible population of feral horses where the management outcome sought is to maintain the population at its current size. It is not a viable option to reduce the large and growing feral horse population in the vast and rugged terrain of Kosciuszko National Park.

    Feral horses are trashing and trampling our sensitive alpine ecosystems and streams, causing the decline and extinction of native animals. The federal government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee has stated that feral horses ‘may be the crucial factor that causes final extinction’ for 12 alpine species.

    I recognise the sad reality that urgent and humane measures are necessary to urgently remove the horses or they will destroy the Snowies and the native wildlife that call the mountains home. I support a healthy national park where native species like the Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum can thrive.

    Kind regards,
    [Your name]
    [Your email address]
    [Your postcode]


    Dear Project Team,

    [YOUR PERSONALISED MESSAGE WILL APPEAR HERE.] 

    I support the amendment to the Kosciuszko National Park Wild Horse Heritage Management Plan to allow our incredible National Parks staff to use aerial shooting as one method to rapidly reduce feral horse numbers. I want to see feral horse numbers urgently reduced in order to save the national park and our native wildlife that live there.

    The current approach is not solving the problem. Feral horse numbers have rapidly increased in Kosciuszko National Park to around 18,000, a 30% jump in just the past 2 years. With the population so high, thousands of feral horses need to be removed annually to reduce numbers and stop our National Park becoming a horse paddock. Aerial shooting, undertaken humanely and safely by professionals using standard protocols, is the only way this can happen.

    The government’s own management plan for feral horses states that ‘if undertaken in accordance with best practice, aerial shooting can have the lowest negative animal welfare impacts of all lethal control methods’.

    This humane and effective practice is already used across Australia to manage hundreds of thousands of feral animals like horses, deer, pigs, and goats.

    Trapping and rehoming of feral horses has been used in Kosciuszko National Park for well over a decade but has consistently failed to reduce the population, has delayed meaningful action and is expensive. There are too many feral horses in the Alps and not enough demand for rehoming for it to be relied upon for the reduction of the population.

    Fertility control as a management tool is only effective for a small, geographically isolated, and accessible population of feral horses where the management outcome sought is to maintain the population at its current size. It is not a viable option to reduce the large and growing feral horse population in the vast and rugged terrain of Kosciuszko National Park.

    Feral horses are trashing and trampling our sensitive alpine ecosystems and streams, causing the decline and extinction of native animals. The federal government’s Threatened Species Scientific Committee has stated that feral horses ‘may be the crucial factor that causes final extinction’ for 12 alpine species.

    I recognise the sad reality that urgent and humane measures are necessary to urgently remove the horses or they will destroy the Snowies and the native wildlife that call the mountains home. I support a healthy national park where native species like the Corroboree Frog and Mountain Pygmy Possum can thrive.

    Kind regards,
    [Your name]
    [Your email address]
    [Your postcode]