THE arrival of the Varroa mite in South Australia should ring alarm bells for every farmer, policymaker, and consumer in this state. 
This tiny parasite, long feared in Australia, attacks European honey bees - the workhorses of our pollination system. Without bees, many of our most valuable crops cannot set fruit. Almonds, apples, citrus, grapes, berries, and countless vegetables depend on pollination. A collapse in bee populations is not simply a beekeeper’s problem, it is a direct threat to our food security, regional economies, and the affordability of fresh produce on supermarket shelves.
The risk is not hypothetical. Overseas, where Varroa has taken hold, feral and wild bee populations have plummeted. Commercial hives require costly and labour-intensive management just to survive. Here in South Australia, an incursion will force higher production costs on growers, erode yields, and make our farming systems more fragile in the face of other environmental shocks. For regional communities already battling drought and rising input costs, this is a blow we can ill afford.
And the mite is not the first, nor will it be the last, biosecurity challenge to hit South Australia in recent years. Abalone viral ganglioneuritis continues to threaten our valuable fisheries. The incursion of tomato brown rugose fruit virus brought South Australia’s tomato industry to a standstill almost overnight. The battle with Queensland Fruit Fly continues, and now Varroa has crossed into our state. Each of these incursions carries its own costs and challenges, but together they reveal a troubling pattern: South Australia is experiencing a steady increase in biosecurity incursions.
These events erode industry confidence, strain departmental resources, and risk undermining our reputation as a clean, green, premium producer. If we do not respond decisively, we risk long-term damage to our state’s competitive advantage.
This is why the role of PIRSA, and its capacity to respond swiftly and effectively, is absolutely critical. And make no mistake: this work is resource-intensive, highly specialised, and cannot be done on the cheap.
Back in 2022, I raised concerns when the government abolished the deputy chief executive position at PIRSA. That role provided critical leadership, oversight, and resilience across the department. At the time, I warned that such a cut would reduce the department’s ability to manage major crises. Sadly, with each new incursion, those warnings are proving accurate.
Now, more than ever, this government must revisit that decision and ensure PIRSA is adequately supported with the depth, scientific expertise and operational capacity needed to meet the challenges ahead. The Minister must ensure her department is properly resourced, not just for today’s emergencies but for the escalating pressures of the future. Cutting leadership positions or delaying investment in staff and infrastructure is short-sighted. Protecting South Australia’s $17bn primary industries sector requires vision, commitment, and adequate funding.
South Australia’s farmers, fishers, and food producers cannot shoulder this burden alone. Government must provide the resources, leadership, and coordination required to protect the industries that feed us, employ us, and sustain our regions. 
The incursion of Varroa is a wake-up call. 
The question is whether the government will heed it, and act before the next threat arrives.