Senator Greig asked the Minister for the Environment and Heritage, upon notice, on 19 October 1999:

(1) What action has been taken by the department concerning the mundulla yellow disease which affects native Australian gum trees, killing them within 7 to 10 years and for which there is no known cure.

(2) (a) What is the extent of the disease throughout Australia; and (b) can details be given for each state and territory.

(3) Has any money been allocated from the Natural Heritage Trust to deal with this national threat to our native fauna; if so: (a) how much money has been allocated; and (b) on what basis have the funds been allocated.

Senator Hill (Environment and Heritage) —The answer to the honourable senator's question is as follows:

Mundulla Yellows is a condition affecting a wide range of native vegetation species. It was first noticed in Mundulla, South Australia, but is now suspected to have a much wider distribution. The Department of the Environment and Heritage, through the Bushcare program under the Natural Heritage Trust, is providing $150,000 between 1999-2000 and 2000-01 to contribute to researching the causal agent of this disease, and the development of a procedure for its diagnosis.

(2) (a) Without a diagnostic procedure, it is impossible to accurately determine the distribution of this disease; there are a number of plant pathogens and conditions which might cause like-symptoms.

(b) See 2(a)

(3) (a) Under the Natural Heritage Trust $150,000 of Bushcare Program funds has been allocated to investigations into this disease.

(b) The funding will be used to address the key knowledge gaps, as identified by researchers and other stakeholders, namely the identification of a causal agent, and the development of a diagnostic procedure. Discussions with researchers have been held and the Department of the Environment and Heritage is expecting to announce the selection of a research group with expert capacity to undertake this work, in the near future.