ACT Implements Measures to Protect Bees Amid Varroa Threat

On 23 October 2026, the ACT Assembly approved new initiatives to protect bees and other pollinators in Canberra. The ACT Government agreed to enhance protections by expanding pollinator-friendly planting, supporting beekeepers, and improving community education. Greens amendments ensured pollinators receive greater consideration in government planning and environmental policies.

The debate occurred as the Varroa mite continues to spread in the ACT, affecting about half of Canberra’s estimated 6,000 beehives and destroying over 1,000. Canberra Liberals MLA Elizabeth Lee criticized the lack of dedicated funding in the recent ACT Budget for the Nature Conservation Strategy, emphasizing that without funding, strategies remain ineffective.