On 14 February 2018, the cross-jurisdictional National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) established the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC). The EIC replaced the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC), whose responsibilities have now been taken on by the new EIC. This decision addresses, in part, recommendation 10 of the 2017 independent report, Priorities for Australia Biosecurity System (PDF 3.1 MB)
The EIC is responsible for providing national policy leadership on the identification, prevention and management of invasive plant, vertebrate and invertebrate species that adversely impact the environment, economy and community. The EIC provides a forum for identifying and resolving national priorities for freshwater and terrestrial invasive species as well as other species where there is an environmental or community biosecurity impact, that are not within the scope of another NBC sub-committee.
It also provides national policy leadership on environmental biosecurity more broadly, including engaging with stakeholders and working with other sub-committees to provide the NBC with consistent and consolidated advice on environmental biosecurity issues.
The core objectives of the committee include:
- delivering an integrated and effective national approach to the prevention, detection, identification, response and management of emerging and established invasive species that affect the environment, the economy and the community
- supporting the development and implementation of a nationally consistent and effective approach to biological control programs, activities and associated governance, administrative and legislative processes (where relevant)
- developing and implementing national strategies to:
- ensure a clear governance structure for the management of relevant species of national importance within the national biosecurity system, and
- prioritise research, development and extension in invasive species biosecurity.
- supporting national communication and stakeholder engagement on invasive species, including leading engagement with environmental biosecurity stakeholders
- assisting the efforts of the Commonwealth to meet Australia’s obligations under multilateral environmental agreements, being the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals as they relate to environmental biosecurity, and
- providing the NBC with advice on national invasive species policy issues and the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement.
Terms of Reference
Further information about the EIC and its responsibilities is set out in the committees Terms of Reference (DOCX 34 KB)
Environment and Invasives Committee Members and Observers
The members and observers of the Environment and Invasives Committee are:
| Name | Role | Organisation |
|---|---|---|
| Tim Farry | Chair | Department of Primary Industries, Queensland |
| Nick Secomb | Deputy Chair | Department of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia |
| Kate McArthur | Member | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria |
| Penny Fisher | Member | Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria |
| Marcelle O'Brien | Member | Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania |
| Tony Griffiths | Member | Department of Lands, Planning and Environment, Northern Territory |
| Megan Wyllie | Member | Environment, Planning, Sustainability and Development Directorate, Australian Capital Territory |
| Scott Charlton | Member | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, New South Wales |
| Steven Cox | Member | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water |
| Christina Cork | Member | Department of the Environment, Tourism, Science and Innovation, Queensland |
| Dr Gabrielle Vivian-Smith | Member | Australian Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Commonwealth |
| Jason Ferris | Member | Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Commonwealth |
| Karl Hillyard | Member | Department for Environment and Water, South Australia |
| Kellie Passeretto | Member | Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia |
| Ron Shepherd | Member | Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia |
| Raghu Sathyamurthy | Observer | Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation |
| Rachel Mann | Observer | Plant Health Australia |
| Samantha Allan | Observer | Animal Health Australia |
| Shauna Chadlowe | Observer | Centre for Invasive Species Solutions |
| Sandra Parsons | Observer | Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences |
| Tiggy Grillo | Observer | Wildlife Health Australia |
Other observers may be invited for specific agenda items as required.
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry provides Secretariat.
Sub-groups
The EIC is supported by five ongoing experts working or advisory groups that provide policy, technical and scientific advice on relevant matters:
- Freshwater Vertebrates and Invertebrates Working Group
- Weeds Working Group
- Terrestrial Vertebrates Working Group
- Terrestrial Invertebrates Working Group, and
- Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group.
The EIC will also form short term task-specific groups from time to time to provide advice and deliver key initiatives.
The EIC (and IPAC previously) is progressing work under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity, as well as NBC priorities, by providing national policy leadership in the identification, prevention and management of invasive plants and animals, including through:
- development and implementation of the Australian Pest Animal Strategy
- development and implementation of the Australian Weeds Strategy
- development and ongoing review of the Australian List of Threat Categories of Non-indigenous Vertebrates
- development of the National Incursion Response Plan for Terrestrial Snakes (PDF 1.15 MB)
- development of the National Policy Guidelines for the Translocation of Live Aquatic Animals
- development of a national priority list of exotic environmental pests and diseases
- development of the National Environmental Biosecurity Snapshot
- supporting implementation of the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research Development and Extension Strategy
- implementation of the National Wild Dog Action Plan (PDF 2.0 MB)
- advice to the NBC regarding the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement and its review
- advice to the NBC on considerations relating to the future release the National Carp Control Plan, and
- support for multiple nominations for weed biological control targets.
Key issues considered by the IPAC and EIC are outlined in the meeting communiqués listed below.
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 17 – 10 February 2026
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 16 – 12-13 August 2025
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 15 – 5 March 2025
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 14 – 30 August 2024
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 13 – 20-21 February 2024
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 11 – 16 June 2023
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 10 – 3 and 4 August 2022
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 9 – 8 March 2022
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 8 – 7 and 8 September 2021
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 5 – 24 and 25 February 2020
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 4 – 31 July 2019
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 3 – 13 February 2019
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 2 – 14 August 2018
- EIC Communiqué – Meeting 1 – 2 May 2018
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 10 – 30 November 2017
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 9 – 7 September 2017
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 8 – 23 March 2017
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 7 – 15 November 2016
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 6 – 1 August 2016
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 5 – 18 March 2016
- IPAC Communiqué – Meeting 4 – 26 November 2015
If you have any questions about the EIC, please contact the secretariat at EIC.