Submission to the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee for its inquiry into the Adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures and response preparedness, in particular with respect to foot-and-mouth disease and varroa mite.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has made a written submission to the Senate Standing References Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport’s inquiry into the adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures and response preparedness, in particular with respect to foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Varroa mite. .
Australia has a world-class biosecurity program, which is vital to strengthening and supporting our environment and economy, including tourism, trade and agriculture. Our biosecurity system has served Australia and Australians well – we remain free from a range of damaging pests and diseases. Australia is FMD-free and has been for 150 years.
Australia’s robust biosecurity system safeguards access to valuable export markets for our producers, growers and processors, protects our way of life, and underpins our status as a trading nation. Each year, it protects: $251.5 billion (2021) in assets; $83.1 billion (2021-22) in annual agricultural production; and $65.9 billion (2022-23) forecasted exports in agriculture, forestry and fisheries products
Our freedom from many significant exotic pests and diseases supports our agricultural productivity and allows our producers, growers and processors to access valuable markets, and in some cases receive premium pricing for their products. In this way, our biosecurity system supports Australian jobs, particularly in regional and rural Australia.
Our national biosecurity system is greater than the sum of its individual parts. It is a multilayered, interconnected network of people, critical infrastructure and technology, partnerships, processes and regulatory activities that function cohesively overseas (pre-border), at our border and within Australia (post-border) to protect our national interests.
The system relies heavily on the sharing of responsibility by all stakeholders, including governments, industry, research organisations, agriculture and environment groups, First Nations peoples, veterinarians, park rangers, landowners, farmers, entomologists and the broader Australian community.
