Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030

The success of the national biosecurity system in protecting our environment, economy and people relies on the efforts of all parties. We will work across the Commonwealth and with governments, industry, research institutions and community groups to implement improvements across the system to efficiently and effectively manage biosecurity risk.

Addressing biosecurity risks before they reach our shores is a strong mitigant to preventing incursions and to minimising the scale and cost of border interventions. We will implement a range of initiatives to increase offshore compliance with our import requirements while supporting faster clearance of commodities at our borders where it is safe to do so.

Mitigating biosecurity risks before they reach Australia is important, as is supporting neighbouring countries in their efforts to grow their economies and protect their environment. Regional pest and disease pressure is growing. Building on our established relationships, we will partner with neighbouring countries to improve regional capability to identify and mitigate biosecurity risks. We will also work with international bodies to strengthen regional and global biosecurity frameworks and practices.

Our staff, together with those people working under third party arrangements, will remain critical to managing biosecurity risk. As biosecurity threats change and grow, and technology offers new ways of doing business, our workforce needs to be equipped to respond. We will grow the capacity and skills of our people, together with the critical regulatory tools and information systems supporting them. This will increase our effectiveness, responsiveness and resilience as regulators and deliver digital transformation.

New and emerging technologies are revolutionising how governments and industry operate. We will continue to explore and adopt these tools and ways of working, in partnership with industry and others where appropriate, to help us mitigate biosecurity risks and improve system efficiency for the benefit of all.

Everyone can play a part in protecting our economy and environment from biosecurity risks. We will seek to enhance engagement, awareness and understanding of biosecurity risks across the Australian community and business sectors.

We will build our overseas strategic and operational intelligence, and associated analytics capability. This will assist us to quickly identify current and emerging trends and risks to inform future planning, ensure timely and appropriate border assurance and interventions and support preparedness planning, including for possible incursions.

The biosecurity threats to Australia will continue to change. Even with our best efforts, no system can reduce our risk to zero. We will invest in domestic preparedness, response, recovery and resilience planning and arrangements to help minimise potential impacts and disruptions.

Governments, businesses and community groups invest in Australia’s biosecurity to protect our collective interest in avoiding and mitigating the considerable and ongoing costs associated with exotic pests and diseases. We will work toward ensuring our funding and investment strategies are fit-for-purpose and sustainable for the long-term, and that biosecurity partners contribute equitably. This will involve consultation with our key system partners and participants.