Frequently asked questions

Australia’s biosecurity strategy is based upon principles of risk management, and includes;

• off-shore verification of the pest and disease status of goods entering Australia,
• a requirement for import permits for all live animals, live plants and some seeds,
• extensive inspection and surveillance activities at the point of entry into Australia, and
• post entry procedures for those goods where the biosecurity risk extends beyond those border controls.

A post entry quarantine (PEQ) station is a facility where certain imported animals and plants are held for a specified period in a quarantined environment before release into Australia.

Management of certain quarantine risks requires all live animals and most live plants or plant material intended for propagation, imported into Australia to spend some time in secure post entry facilities to enable appropriate quarantine checks to occur before they can safely be released to importers.

Australia is free of many diseases and pests that exist in other countries.

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) operates post entry quarantine facilities to help maintain the integrity of Australia’s biosecurity.

Animals and plants are not released into Australia until they have fulfilled quarantine requirements – this often includes a period of quarantine at PEQ stations to ensure animals and plants are free from pests and diseases.

DAFF currently leases and operates five post entry quarantine facilities for imported live animals and plants at:

• Spotswood in Melbourne (for animal quarantine);
• Knoxfield in Melbourne (for plant quarantine);
• Eastern Creek in Sydney (for plant and animal quarantine);
• Byford in Perth (for animal quarantine); and
• Torrens Island in Adelaide (for egg hatching quarantine).

In the 2012-13 Budget, announced on 8 May 2012, the Government has made a commitment of $379.9 million over seven years to fund construction of a new Government-owned and operated post entry quarantine station in Victoria, consolidating all existing DAFF PEQ functions to a single integrated site.

The future post entry quarantine arrangements project has addressed existing Commonwealth post entry quarantine functions only. State and private sector post entry quarantine functions are outside the scope of this project. The project will not affect the wide range of arrangements in place for post entry quarantine facilities that are not operated by the Australian Government, including Quarantine Approved Premises and facilities that operate under existing Compliance Agreements.

Due to the need for procurement confidentiality, we cannot disclose details of discussions relating to the potential purchase of land. The Department of Finance and Deregulation (DOFD) has been investigating potential sites for acquisition and construction of the facility in outer metropolitan Melbourne, which has been identified as the preferred location for the new facility.

In 2010, Finance, in conjunction with DAFF, commenced a nationwide investigation of more than 30 potential locations and sites to accommodate the new facility. Key considerations included climatic requirements, areas free of certain pest or disease vectors, and proximity to a major international airport. As part of the comprehensive due diligence process, discussions are ongoing with Victorian Government departments and other stakeholders.

The Eastern Creek facility will close at the end of 2015. All other sites will be maintained until the end of existing leasing arrangements and any extensions agreed with each site’s owner.

However, all current sites will eventually be closed as existing operations are transferred over time to the one location.

Detailed design work is being undertaken over the next 12 months to determine the final size, structure and layout of the new facilities.

The project aims to replace our current post entry quarantine facilities with a sustainable, reliable facility that adopts modern technology and operating practices. It will deliver a state-of-the-art facility that will consolidate existing animal and plant services into a single, integrated site in Victoria.

The consolidation of Australia’s existing PEQs into one facility in Victoria means that the facility will be of a substantial size.

The new facility will continue to operate in line with existing import policies. The consolidation of services and integration of activities should lead to efficiencies and the adoption of modern management practices, but these will meet the same import policies, and the project will not consider a review of the policies. Any changes to import policies will occur through the existing DAFF Biosecurity import policy processes.

The project is intended to replace our current aging post entry quarantine facilities with sustainable, reliable facilities that adopt modern technology and operating practices.

Consistent with Government policy, the Commonwealth will ensure a high degree of environmental sustainability in all aspects of design, construction and operations. The project will embrace ecologically sustainable development principles including whole-of-life decision-making in design, construction and operation, and compliance with specific Commonwealth energy and water conservation policies.

The existing DAFF sites will continue to operate for the foreseeable future. It is intended that the transfer of existing operations to the new site will be staged over a period of time to allow for an orderly transition.

Industry groups and users will be consulted on an ongoing basis as part of the existing cost recovery consultation processes. Any decision on fees related to the new arrangements will ultimately be a matter for government.

The new site will begin operation from late 2015, when the existing quarantine facility at Eastern Creek will close. Quarantine operations at other facilities will be transferred progressively to the new station with the process scheduled to be completed by 2018.

The works at our existing sites are being undertaken to ensure that they can continue to deliver the best workplace health and safety, biosecurity and welfare outcomes until the new facility is completed.

The department commissioned a report from specialist biosecurity consultants who identified a number of areas at our existing sites that would require upgrading to ensure the sites could operate effectively up until they are closed. This report formed the basis for the works which were then further reviewed by the department before a final list of works were settled upon. Additionally the department commissioned a bushfire management report for the Byford quarantine station which identified improvements to landscaping and fire fighting equipment which is now being implemented.

Upon completion the works will deliver upgraded plant diagnostic laboratories and equipment, enhanced greenhouse temperature control, improved kennel and cattery environments and improved mechanical and electrical systems at our live bird and hatching egg facilities. Additionally these improvements will deliver improved work environments for the departments staff.

The budget for these works was $11.4m and it is anticipated that they will be delivered for an amount less than this due to favourable conditions in the construction industry and the use of simpler methods to implement the recommendations of the biosecurity consultants report.

You can keep up-to-date with any further developments of this work on the future post entry quarantine arrangements web page.

For more information on the scoping study for future post-entry quarantine arrangements, or to provide data to the project team:

• email the PeqProject or
• Toll free: 1800 134 497 (business hours) 

Media inquiries should be directed to:

Email: Media
Phone: 02 6272 3232
International Phone: +61 2 6272 3232