Options

DAFBiosecurity is required to investigate a wide range of options and report to Government on the benefits, risks, issues, impacts and costs of each of the key options.

These options will range from doing nothing, to full privatisation, to moving to Commonwealth owned and operated facilities and various options in between. They will also canvass possible relocation and consolidation of existing post entry quarantine functions.

Any option presented for Government consideration must:

• satisfy existing policy and legislative requirements
• balance biosecurity management and priorities, community obligations and Government expenditure, 
• include consideration of cost recovery arrangements, and
• deliver best value for money over the life of the arrangement.

Additionally, based on discussions with biosecurity experts, industry stakeholders and interested parties, the following set of selection criteria will be used, as a minimum, to identify any potential future location and site.

Any potential location and site must be at least:

• large enough to allow all the final elements to fit on the site/s with space for future growth should it be needed
• located outside any current or likely biosecurity risk exclusion zone
• located away from populations of species in quarantine
• located within easy reach of an international airport
• located to be geographically appropriate for species in quarantine with minimum requirement to create artificial environments
• located to have access to appropriate skills and support facilities (access to academic and research institutions and appropriate industry and communities).