Biosecurity Advisory Council Annual Report 2009-2010

Table of Contents

Chair’s Report
Introduction
Beale Review
Interim terms of reference
Membership
Council activities
Consultation and Communication activities
Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel
Future work plan – 2010–11
Attachment A – Council Members
Attachment B – Summary of Submissions
Attachment C – Stakeholder Attendance

Chair’s Report

In the four months since being appointed on 22 February 2010, the Biosecurity Advisory Council has made good progress in addressing two substantial matters on which the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Tony Burke MP, sought advice. While a considerable body of work remains to be completed before final advice is delivered to the minister in February 2011, a sound foundation of background knowledge and stakeholder input has been established.

How beneficiaries and risk creators might better contribute to national biosecurity activities, and what is the most appropriate framework for developing a national priority exotic pest and disease list, are two complex questions that the Council has approached with diligence and enthusiasm. These matters, which were identified in the 2008 independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements: “One Biosecurity – a working partnership” (the Beale review), are of fundamental importance to Australia’s biosecurity arrangements and the Council has welcomed the opportunity to provide advice to the minister in these priority areas in its inaugural year.

The diverse experience, disciplines and interests of Council members have been of great value in traversing the breadth of issues arising from consideration of the two tasks. In our approach to these tasks, the Council established two working groups to explore the issues and options that will inform and influence its ultimate advice to the minister. It is pleasing that the Council was able to provide preliminary advice to the minister in mid–June 2010, and, with the benefit of further guidance from the minister, we are confident of being able to provide our final advice early in the coming year.

The Council has appreciated the support of the Biosecurity Services Group’s Strategic Project Division in providing secretariat services, and the ongoing input and interest of other departmental offices and officers, along with other Australian government departments and state and territory agencies. This support, complemented by the interest demonstrated by stakeholder bodies, is an encouraging manifestation of the Beale review’s concept of a working partnership – One Biosecurity.

Andrew Inglis AM
Chair
Biosecurity Advisory Council

Introduction

The Biosecurity Advisory Council was established on 1 January 2010 as a non–statutory advisory body to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, replacing the Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council. The principal role of the Biosecurity Advisory Council is to provide independent advice on matters across the entire biosecurity continuum, including the performance of all agencies operating in the biosecurity field. It is to consider Australia’s national and international obligations and have regard to the activities of any existing arrangements, including those relating to relevant environment and health aspects across the biosecurity continuum in developing its advice.

Beale Review

On 19 February 2008, the previous Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Tony Burke MP (the minister), announced a comprehensive, independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements (the Beale review). An independent panel of experts chaired by Mr Roger Beale AO undertook the review. Mr Beale was joined on the panel by Dr Jeff Fairbrother AM, Mr Andrew Inglis AM and Mr David Trebeck.

The government released the panel’s report, ‘One Biosecurity – a working partnership’ on 18 December 2008. In the Australian Government’s preliminary response, also released on 18 December 2008, the government agreed, in–principle, to the report’s 84 recommendations.

In the report, the panel proposed the establishment of a Biosecurity Advisory Council (the council), replacing the Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council, as the advisory body to the minister, the National Biosecurity Commission and the Director of Biosecurity. Reflecting the move from quarantine to biosecurity, it was recommended that the council should have a broader remit in relation to the biosecurity continuum. The panel suggested that the council should be non–representative and consist of expertise–based members drawn from the Commonwealth, state governments, business and non–government organisations. The proposal included that the minister should appoint members that have substantial experience across a range of disciplines, including agricultural, environmental and health sciences, risk assessment, business management and knowledge of operational aspects of biosecurity.

Interim terms of reference

The council is currently operating under interim terms of reference that will be reviewed once permanent biosecurity governance structures and legislation have been established. The council’s interim terms of reference require it to, on request, provide the minister with:

• co–ordinated, strategic risk–based policy advice on major biosecurity issues;
• advice on biosecurity activities undertaken by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments including identification of areas which could benefit from increased cooperation;
• advice on improving responses to incidents of biosecurity concern, including emergency pest and disease incursions and strategies to deal with invasive species either established or newly introduced;
• advice on the efficacy of public biosecurity awareness and education campaigns; and
• advice on any other matter referred to it by the minister.

Membership

As recommended by the Beale review, the council consists of non–representative members with a broad range of skills in biosecurity and related disciplines. Nominations for membership were sought from state and territory governments, industry and academia, with appointments being made by the minister.

Council membership includes the Chair – Mr Andrew Inglis AM, seven ordinary members and the ex–officio position, represented by the Deputy Secretary of the Biosecurity Services Group. Members’ selection was based on experience in natural sciences related to risks of pests and diseases in plants, animals, humans, risk assessment, management, ecology, agricultural, food production, and economic assessments.

Members have been appointed for a period of two years until 31 December 2011. Details of the council membership, including short biographies, including key areas of expertise is at Attachment A.

The Biosecurity Services Group Strategic Projects Division in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides secretariat services for the Council.

Council activities

On 22 February 2010, the council was formally commissioned to provide advice on the following two work areas in its first 12 months of operation.

• Consider ways for beneficiaries and risk creators to better contribute to national biosecurity activities, including:
• • possible funding mechanisms for emergency responses where these are not currently covered by existing arrangements, such as the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD)
  • greater involvement in post–border activities such as monitoring and surveillance.

• In advance of the establishment of the new national biosecurity authority, advise on a framework for the developing of a national priority exotic pest and disease list, including:
• • the assessment of currently available lists
  • analysis of respective pathways, likelihood of incursion and consequences for business, human health and the environment
  • ways to utilise the list to prioritise the review and development of biosecurity risk management plans.

The council held its inaugural meeting on the 25 February 2010. At this meeting, the minister met with the council and asked that it provide preliminary advice on the above mentioned work areas by June 2010 and final advice by February 2011.

• Since its inaugural meeting, the council has formally convened four times (25 February, 29 March, 27–28 April and 15–16 June 2010) and has held several teleconferences. The focus of each of these meetings has been establishing the council’s administrative procedures, gathering information from departmental officers and other relevant stakeholder to progress the work program and developing advice for the minister. Following each of the council’s face–to–face meetings, the Chair has provided advice to the minister regarding the council’s progress.
• To assist the council progress its work, two working groups have been established to focus on each of the work areas.

On 17 June 2010, Mr Inglis met with the minister provide the council’s preliminary advice on the two activities specified in its work program and discuss the council’s progress. The minister advised Mr Inglis that he would consider this preliminary advice and provide the council with additional guidance as to where future efforts should be focused.

Consultation and Communication activities

Consultation and communication with relevant stakeholders has been a vital part of the council’s activities to date. Due to the complexity and diverse views on the council’s work areas, the council has sought opinions and advice from a wide range of sources. In March 2010, the council wrote to peak industry bodies and other relevant stakeholders to advise of the council’s establishment and to invite these organisations to contribute, in writing, to council’s considerations. In response, the council received submissions from the states and territories governments and several committees and organisations. See Attachment B for a summary of submission received.

• In addition, the council has invited a number of industry, government and academic representatives to present information relating to the council’s work program at its meetings. Representatives have included Animal Health Australia, Plant Health Australia, National Farmers’ Federation, intergovernmental committees, academia, the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, and Industry and Investment NSW. A full list of stakeholders who have met with the council is at Attachment C.

The council intends to formally convene and consult further and “road test” its recommendations with relevant stakeholders.

• Council members have also been involved with other activities including:
• • a member’s attendance at a Foot–and–Mouth Disease Symposium on 12–14 April 2010
  • the Chair’s attendance to the minister’s budget meeting on 11 May 2010, and
  • the Chair’s attendance at the Industry Biosecurity Roundtable (hosted by the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry on 4 June 2010.

Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel

The independent Import Risk Analysis Appeals Panel (IRAAP) is convened, as required, to consider any appeals received about a particular provisional final import risk analysis (IRA) report released by Biosecurity Australia. The Chair of the council also chairs the IRAAP. Other members of an IRAAP include one other council member (nominated by the chair).

In 2009–10, two IRAAPs were convened that involved council members:

• fresh apple fruit from the People’s Republic of China
• fresh stone fruit from California, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

The membership of these IRAAPs included Dr Elizabeth Mattiske and Mr Dennis Witt respectively.

Future work plan – 2010–11

Following the provision of the council’s preliminary advice to the minister, the council has been asked to pursue a number of activities identified in the preliminary advice. Further advice has been requested on:

• the possibility of expanding the scope of the animal and plant emergency response arrangements to include all plant, animal and industry sectors (eg. aquaculture) and cost recovery to fund biosecurity risk mitigation measures
• ways to address cross–sector pest and disease not covered by current cost–sharing arrangements under the deeds (eg weeds and pastures)
• options for broadening industry and community engagement in monitoring and surveillance (including increasing awareness of peri–urban landholders),for example, the merits of a ‘biosecurity watch’ concept and associated education, training and awareness.

The council has also been asked to work with the department to inform the development of a framework to support the move to a risk–based biosecurity system.

The council’s work in the above areas will provide the basis for its final advice to be provided to the minister by February 2011.

Attachment A – Council Members

Mr Andrew Inglis AM (Chair) is a South Australian grain and beef farmer, former Deputy Chairman of the Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council and a member of the past two major reviews of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements—the 1996 Nairn review and the 2008 Beale review. He is the current Chairman of the Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre and is a former Chairman of Plant Health Australia. Mr Inglis was awarded an Order of Australia in 2000 for service to agriculture.

Dr Lisa Adams is a research and development consultant to the agriculture and public health sectors. She is a member of the Western Australian State Health Research Advisory Council and former Foundation Executive Director and Director of Research Development of the Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for Emerging Infectious Disease. Dr Adams is a veterinarian with experience working in the agriculture and health sciences and has broad knowledge of biosecurity systems and policy.

Dr Joanne Daly is the Group Executive of CSIRO’s Agribusiness portfolio and provides the council with skills and experience in environmental and biosecurity sciences. Dr Daly is the former Chief of CSIRO Entomology (2003–07) and is currently CSIRO’s representative on the Primary Industry Standing Committee. Dr Daly was a member of the Quarantine and Exports Advisory Council.

Mr Peter Kenny was president of AgForce between 2004 and 2008 and was elected to the board of the National Farmers’ Federation in 2006. He has been secretary of the Cattlemen’s Union of Australia. He has always been closely associated with the land, has owned, and managed properties in different industries, including cattle, dairying, orchards, lucerne and piggeries. In 2008, Mr Kenny was commissioned by the Queensland government to review the strategy for the control of wild dogs and was chair of an expert panel assessing social impacts as part of the Drought Policy Review. Mr Kenny is a member of the Australian Landcare Council, is currently a director on the boards of Queensland Rail and the Royal National Agricultural and Industrial Association of Queensland, and represents the agriculture sector on a committee advising the Premier of Queensland on climate change. In May 2010, Mr Kenny was appointed Chair of the new Biosecurity Queensland Ministerial Advisory Council (BQMAC) formed to tackle some of Queensland’s ongoing threats from fire ants, Asian honeybees and the Hendra virus.

Dr Elizabeth Mattiske has more than 30 years experience in flora and vegetation surveys in Australia and external territories. She is a former Australian Heritage Commissioner and currently a member of the Australian Heritage Council. She has been involved with both state and federal State of the Environment committees and is a former member and deputy chair of the Western Australian National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority and the Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority. Dr Mattiske brings to the council a depth of experience on threatening processes and impacts of introduced species on Australian ecosystems.

Ms Claire Penniceard is the owner of an export pig production company and has won three significant national awards for environmental stewardship and innovation. Ms Penniceard has been Director of the Goulburn Murray Water Authority since 2007 and member of the Victorian Government’s Ministerial Women in Primary Industries Advisory Panel since 2008. She provides the council with experience in agriculture, primary production, environmental sciences and business management.

Dr Bernie Towler is the Principal Medical Adviser, Office of Health Protection, Department of Health and Ageing. She continues to practice medicine and has strong public health experience in academic, research and policy environments.

Mr Dennis Witt is the former Chief Veterinary Officer of Tasmania. Mr Witt has been a member of a range of advisory and consultative committees and will provide the council with valuable state government experience and expertise in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and operational biosecurity.

Attachment B – Summary of Submissions

Australian Biosecurity CRC for Emerging Infections Disease

Animal Health Committee

Australian Health Protection Principal Committee(AHPC)

Australian Weeds Committee (AWC)

Australian Wildlife Health Network (AWHN)

CRC Plant Biosecurity

Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia

Department of Employment Economic Development and Innovation Queensland

Department of Fisheries Western Australia

Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment Tasmania

Department of Resources Northern Territory

Forest Production Commission Western Australia

Industry and Investment NSW

Industry Working Group on Quarantine (IWGQ)

Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre

National Introduced Marine Pest Coordination Group

Primary Industries and Resources South Australia

National Introduced Marine Pest Coordination Group

Vertebrate Pests Committee (VPC)

Attachment C – Stakeholder Attendance

Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis (ACERA)
Managing Director
Professor Mark Burgman

Animal Health Australia (AHA)
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Mike Bond

Australian National University (ANU)
Executive Director, Climate Change Institute
Professor Will Steffen

Australian National University (ANU)
Head, Environment, Climate and Health Research Program, National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health
Professor Tony McMichael

Biosecurity Australia
Chief Executive
Dr Colin Grant

Biosecurity Australia
Risk Analysis Systems & Assurance
Dr Neil Grant

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Animal Division
General Manager, Animal Health Programs
Dr Bob Biddle

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Animal Division
Chief Veterinary Officer
Dr Andy Carroll

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Animal Division
General Manager, Biological Quarantine Operations & Marine Pests
Ms Jenny Cupit

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Plant Division
Chief Plant Protection Officer
Ms Lois Ransom

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Plant Division
Contingency Planning & Emergency Response
Mr Mike Cole

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Regional and Business Services Division
Regional Manager, Northern Region
Mr Robert Langlands

Biosecurity Services Group (BSG) Strategic Projects Division
General Manager, Partnerships
Ms Nicola Hinder

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Chief of CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences
Dr Mark Lonsdale

Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA)
Chair
Dr Jeremy McAnulty

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
General Manager, Communication and Reporting Branch, Sustainable Resource Management
Ms Sally Troy,

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
Manager, Weeds and Pest Animals, Sustainable Resource Management
Ms Jeanine Baker

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)
Risk Sciences, Bureau of Rural Sciences
Mr Greg Hood

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEHWA)
Director, Environmental Biosecurity
Ms Pieta–Rae Laut

Industry and Investment NSW
Mr Harley Smith

National Farmers’ Federation (NFF)
Chief Executive Officer
Mr Ben Fargher

Plant Health Australia (PHA)
Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
Mr Greg Fraser

Red Meat Advisory Council Limited
Secretary
Mr Justin Toohey