BERT joins Territory’s biosecurity frontline
The Territory Government is strengthening the fight against exotic animal and plant health diseases with the launch of BERT, the Territory’s Biosecurity Emergency Response Trailer.
BERT is a custom designed stand-alone Biosecurity Emergency Response Trailer, which can be used in the event of a biosecurity emergency response in rural and remote regions of the Northern Territory.
Nicknamed BERT, this mobile response trailer is an important piece of equipment that can be used to provide immediate assistance in emergency situations, including plant and animal emergency responses.
Its local design and production ensures it can be maintained locally and will serve as a model for the design of similar support equipment in the future.
BERT is another tool in the Territory’s fight to keep northern Australia free of serious Emergency Animal and Plant Health diseases.
Australia remains free of serious Emergency Animal Diseases, such as Lumpy Skin Disease and Foot-and-mouth disease.
Funding for BERT was provided by the Commonwealth Government through the Northern Australian Biosecurity Strategy (NABS) to build capacity across government, industry and indigenous stakeholders in northern Australia.
Programs under NABS aim to increase our capacity to help future proof the biosecurity defences and capability in Northern Australia.
Biosecurity management protects crops and cattle, fisheries, forestry and tourism industries from serious damage by pests, diseases and weeds.
If you keep or own livestock or are a local grower on a NT property it is advisable to have a biosecurity management plan. To learn more about biosecurity including current alerts, biosecurity management plans and biosecurity programs go to the Northern Territory Government website.
Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility—if you see unusual pests or signs in plants or animals including invasive animals and weeds report it to the Biosecurity Hotline on 1800 675 888.
