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Long distance driver

​​​​Australia is a nation of great size, and for many people, taking long road trips to experience much of what Australia has to offer can be a rewarding exper​ience. For others, like truck drivers, their long distance driving often provides towns and cities the goods and services they require to remain sustainable.

Whatever your reason for hitting the open road, it is important to understand your responsibilities when it comes to biosecurity and the role long-distance drivers can play.

International travel

​​​​​​Getting out to see the world is a fantastic opportunity to explore and learn more about other cultures. However, it is important for the government to screen for pests, diseases and we​eds which may have travelled with you.

To help protect our agricultural industries, unique environment and the health of all Australians, the department assesses all incoming air and sea travellers and screens baggage using X-ray machines, detector dogs and physical inspection.

Gardening

​​​​​​Gardening is a great Australian pastime.

Across the country, people turn to their gardens as a way to relax and enrich their lives.

It might surprise you that as a gardener – regardless of the size of your garden – you have a responsibility to uphold and protect our biosecurity status by keeping it free of plant pests and diseases.

Plant pests, weeds and diseases from small gardens can easily be spread, causing huge problems for Australia’s agricultural industries and to our native environment.

Farming

​​​​​More and more Australians are leaving the city to enjoy living on a few acres of land, keeping animals and growing some of their own fruit and vegetables.

It is important, not just for hobby and commercial farmers but for everyone in the community, that all landholders take their biosecurity responsibilities seriously.​

Domestic travel

​​​​​​Getting out to see all that Australia has to offer is a fantastic opportunity to explore and learn more about our culture and where we live. However, it is also an opportunity for pests, diseases and weeds to travel with you as you visit different parts of the country.

Bushwalking

​​​​​​Protecting Australia’s environment from pests and diseases that are likely to cause damage is important so that everyone can enjoy Australia’s pristine natural environment.

Bushwalkers venture to places where few people go and are an asset to help detect any unusual changes in our bushland and forests.

You can help by being aware of what is around you the next time you go bushwalking and reporting anything unusual.

Boat owner

​​​​​Marine pests and diseases are great hitchhikers and readily attach themselves to hulls, internal water systems, damp spaces or to boatin​g gear such as anchors, r​​opes and buckets. With more than one million recreational vessels in Australia, there are many opportunities for pests to inadvertently spread as boats move from one place to another.

Biosecurity Matters

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​​​​​​Australia is free from many pests and diseases found around the world.

Our animal, plant and human health rely on stringent controls and measures to manage the risk of these pests and diseases entering and becoming established in Australia.

This is known as biosecurity.

Vessel Pratique

The International Health Regulations 2005 defines vessel pratique as “permission for a ship to enter a port, embark or disembark, discharge or load cargo (goods) or stores; Pratique ensures risks to human health can be identified and managed before the vessel is unloaded or disembarked.

The Department’s Pratique Framework

The Pratique Framework outlines the department’s approach to identifying and managing human health risks relating to vessel arrivals to Australian territory.