Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman has welcomed a new and different recruit to Quarantine WA’s dog detector team at the Perth Domestic Airport.

Three-and-a-half year old Jasper is Australia’s first ‘passive response’ quarantine labrador to join the State’s dog detector team, which includes five beagles.

Mr Redman said Jasper had an important responsibility in protecting Western Australia’s $13billion agricultural and food industries from the threat of plant and animal pests and diseases.

“Jasper uses his acute sense of smell to detect a target odour on passengers and their luggage and then simply sits beside it to indicate a find,” he said.  

The Minister said detector dogs played a crucial role in identifying fruit and vegetables, honey, seeds, cut flowers, bees, reptiles, birds, plants and plant material that could pose a biosecurity risk to the State’s valuable agriculture sector, environment and outdoors lifestyle.

“The Liberal-National Government is focusing its attention on pre-border and quarantine activities in order to protect our access into export markets and ensure our local produce remains unaffected by exotic pests and disease,” he said.

“For some time I’ve been saying it makes sense for the Government to focus on funding border and quarantine activities to stop pests and diseases before they enter WA.  

“Some of Jasper’s finds include plant material hidden in several layers of plastic and foil inside passengers’ pockets; large amounts of honey in sealed jars; and even small amounts of honey in processed sauces and condiments. He’s also discovered fine - almost microscopic - seed lodged in clothing and bags and small particles of soil embedded in footwear or baggage. So fruit, like oranges, apples, grapes and stone fruit, are an easy find for Jasper.”

Jasper underwent two months training before starting at the domestic airport and his training continues on the job with handler Leigh Sonnemann.

“I’m told Jasper can inspect up to 3,000 passengers on 18 flights per day. Since his introduction to the team he has detected more than 500 kilograms of prohibited items,”

Mr Redman said.

“There has been a very positive reaction to him from passengers who are clearly interested that we are using labradors. This is a good indication that many travellers understand they need to place material which could be a quarantine risk in the disposal bins as they depart their flights to Perth.”