The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has opened consultation to help shape the way the new biosecurity protection levy will be applied.
The 2023-24 Federal Budget delivered sustainable funding to Australia’s critical biosecurity system. This included $1.03 billion over the next 4 years, and an ongoing $267 million per year after that, introducing a long-term funding commitment that removes the challenge created by a history of short-term terminating programs.
On 1 July, the government also uplifted cost recovery fees and charges to address rising system costs and ensure that risk creators are paying their fair share.
As part of the next stages of the sustainable funding reforms, the government announced a new biosecurity protection levy as a mechanism for producers, as major beneficiaries of biosecurity controls, to contribute to this long-term commitment.
The proposed levy would start from 1 July 2024 and is intended to collect around $50 million per year.
Deputy Secretary of Biosecurity and Compliance Dr Chris Locke said the funding mechanism was to be designed in keeping with the shared responsibility approach of this year’s Budget – ensuring both those who create risk and those who receive significant benefits make reasonable contributions.
“The amount producers are being asked to contribute is equivalent to 6% of Commonwealth biosecurity funding in 2024-25,” Dr Locke said.
“By comparison, importers will contribute around 48% and the taxpayer will contribute around 44%.
“We want to make sure that biosecurity protection levy arrangements are practical, and that implementation and administration costs are as low as possible for all parties.
“I encourage those with an interest in the biosecurity protection levy to get involved in the consultation.”
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