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Department of Agriculture

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  2. Biosecurity and trade
  3. Pests, diseases and weeds
  4. Established pests and weeds
  5. Environment and Invasives Committee

Sidebar first - Pests diseases weeds

  • Pest animals and weeds in Australia
    • Pest animals in Australia
    • Established weeds
    • Supporting Communities Manage Pest Animals and Weeds Program
    • Environment and Invasives Committee
    • Australia’s carp problem

Environment and Invasives Committee

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:

NameRoleOrganisation
Nigel AinsworthChairDepartment of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria
Kate McArthurMemberDepartment of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria
Penny FisherMemberDepartment of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, Victoria
Noel CarmichaelMemberDepartment of Natural Resources and Environment, Tasmania
Glenn EdwardsMemberDepartment of Environment, Parks and Water Security, Northern Territory
Megan WyllieMemberEnvironment, Planning, Sustainability and Development Directorate, Australian Capital Territory
Scott CharltonMemberDepartment of Primary Industries, New South Wales
Peta RoseMemberNational Parks and Wildlife Service, New South Wales
Enrico PerottiMemberDepartment of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland
Christina CorkMemberDepartment of Environment and Science, Queensland
Bertie HenneckeMemberAustralian Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer
Shalan ScholfieldMemberDepartment of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Commonwealth
Katherine WaterhouseMemberDepartment of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Commonwealth
Karl HillyardMemberDepartment for Environment and Water, South Australia
Nick SecombMemberDepartment of Primary Industries and Regions, South Australia
Tony MennenMemberDepartment of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia
Ron ShepherdMemberDepartment of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia
Raghu SathyamurthyObserverCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Jonathan TerlichObserverPlant Health Australia
Samantha AllanObserverAnimal Health Australia
Andreas GlanznigObserverCentre for Invasive Species Solutions
Sandra ParsonsObserverAustralian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences
Rupert WoodsObserverWildlife 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 expert 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 2019 revised 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 Animals 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 draft 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 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 6 – 2 and 3 September 2020
  • 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

Note: IPAC did not release a communiqué for meetings 1, 2 and 3. A decision was made at IPAC 4 (November 2015) to publish communiqués from that point onwards.

If you have any questions about the EIC, please contact the secretariat at EIC.

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Page last updated: 08 April 2024

We acknowledge the continuous connection of First Nations Traditional Owners and Custodians to the lands, seas and waters of Australia. We recognise their care for and cultivation of Country. We pay respect to Elders past and present, and recognise their knowledge and contribution to the productivity, innovation and sustainability of Australia’s agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries.

Artwork: Protecting our Country, Growing our Future
© Amy Allerton, contemporary Aboriginal Artist of the Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung and Gamilaroi nations.

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