Biosecurity and quarantine

Australia’s favourable pest and disease status provides a vital underpinning for the agriculture and food sector, therefore:

a) a coordinated national approach to biosecurity must be agreed and implemented by governments as a matter of urgency

b) the current import risk analysis process should be streamlined imediately to minimise delays and alleviate international and domestic pressures on the system

c) an independent institutional structure for Biosecurity Australia should be established to promote confidence in the quarantine system

d) governments and representative organisations must communicate Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity policy settings more effectively in order to improve understanding of these complex issues.

Government response

Recomendation 8(a)
Agree.

The framework for integration of Australia’s biosecurity system is underway and is known as the Australian Biosecurity System for Primary Production and the Environment (AusBIOSEC).

Australia has effective arrangements in place for managing biosecurity, particularly for primary industries. Existing operational strategies and legislative measures have been negotiated between governments and industry to address biosecurity issues that are of specific relevance to agricultural sectors. Within the current system, there are opportunities to identify and address gaps in the system, and to improve its efficiency and effectiveness through collaboration and coordination in biosecurity delivery. There are also opportunities to link the existing strategies and enhance arrangements for species that have predominantly environmental and social impacts, and where management activities have primarily public benefit outcomes.

Through AusBIOSEC, the Australian Government is working in partnership with state and territory governments to enhance Australia’s biosecurity system. This work is being progressed as a whole of government project, established in October 2005, under the leadership of a joint Natural Resource Management and Primary Industries Ministerial Council Steering Group. The aim of this process is to integrate the existing elements of Australia’s biosecurity system under an overarching framework of common principles and guidelines so biosecurity arrangements can be implemented consistently across sectors and jurisdictions. It is anticipated that the outcomes of the process will be agreed through an Intergovernmental Agreement, including an implementation plan, within the next 18 months.

Recomendation 8(b)
Agree.

The Government will improve Australia’s process for assessing quarantine import risks to increase confidence in the system. Industry stakeholders have raised concerns about the import risk analysis (IRA) process, and Australia also faces serious scrutiny from our trading partners.

Improvements to the system will aim to increase transparency and timeliness, provide a greater opportunity for scientific issues to be independently reviewed and include early and regular engagement and consultation with stakeholders.

Any changes made to the IRA process would not alter Australia’s very low risk quarantine policy or compromise Australia’s international obligations.

Recomendation 8(c)
Noted.

The Government agrees with the need to promote confidence in the quarantine system, but believes there are more effective ways of achieving this than altering the institutional arrangements for Biosecurity Australia. The Government established Biosecurity Australia as a prescribed agency on 1 December 2004 to boost the independence of its operations and provide appropriate financial autonomy. This institutional arrangement will be reviewed by the end of 2007.

Recomendation 8(d)
Agree.

The policy framework for Australia’s quarantine regime is a shared responsibility between the Australian, state and territory governments, industry and the community. Effective communication with stakeholders is of the utmost importance, and the Government is continually seeking to improve communication and consultation on biosecurity and quarantine issues. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, particularly Biosecurity Australia and the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service, is working actively with other Australian Government departments, state and territory governments and industry representative groups to improve understanding of quarantine issues and to engender stronger support for Australia’s quarantine processes. This is an ongoing process.