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Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Inspector-General of Biosecurity
REVIEW REPORT NO. 2018–19/04
Asian black-spined toad
Dutch elm diseaseXylella on grapevineTramp antsHuanglongbing (citrus greening)
ii Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
© Commonwealth of Australia 2019
Ownership of intellectual property rights Unless otherwise noted, copyright (and any other intellectual property rights, if any) in this publication is owned by the Commonwealth of Australia (referred to as the Commonwealth).
Creative Commons licence All material in this publication is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International Licence except for content supplied by third parties, logos and the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.
Inquiries about the licence and any use of this document should be emailed to copyright@agriculture.gov.au.
Cataloguing data This publication (and any material sourced from it) should be attributed as: Inspector-General of Biosecurity 2019, Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, April. CC BY 4.0.
ISBN 978-1-76003-166-4
Internet This publication is available at igb.gov.au/Pages/completed-audits-and-reviews.aspx.
Contact Inspector-General of Biosecurity c/o Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Postal address PO Box 657 Mascot NSW 1460 Telephone +61 2 8334 7409 Email inspgenbiosecurity@agriculture.gov.au Web igb.gov.au
The Australian Government acting through the Inspector-General of Biosecurity (IGB) has exercised due care and skill in preparing and compiling the information and data in this publication. Notwithstanding, the IGB and the Australian Government’s employees and advisers disclaim all liability, including liability for negligence and for any loss, damage, injury, expense or cost incurred by any person as a result of accessing, using or relying on any of the information or data in this publication to the maximum extent permitted by law.
Credits The source of data for all figures and tables is the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources unless otherwise noted.
Acknowledgements The IGB gratefully acknowledges cooperation and advice of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Department of the Environment and Energy and those individuals and organisations that provided a submission.
iiiEnvironmental biosecurity risk management in Australia iiiEnvironmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Contents
Review process 1
Summary 3
Recommendations and departmental responses 7
1 Background 9
2 Regulation of environmental biosecurity 13
3 Evolving institutional arrangements 18
4 Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions 23
5 Prioritising environmental biosecurity threats 30
6 Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement 39
Conclusion 51
Appendixes
A Agency response 52
B Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations 56
C Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity 76
D Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia 80
E Governance arrangements 90
F Environmental biosecurity preparedness and response activities 91
G List of committees, forums and groups that support government management of environmental biosecurity 92
H Responses to NEBRA review recommendations 93
References 97
Boxes
1 The Live Import List was used to ban Savannah cat imports 34
2 Biosecurity guidelines for white nose syndrome in bats 35
3 Tassal flags biosecurity questions over oil rig in Hobart, Tasmania 37
Figures
1 The biosecurity continuum 10
2 Agriculture’s activities conducted across the biosecurity continuum 15
3 Exotic environmental detections from National Border Surveillance activities, 2017 to 2018 41
Contents
iv Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Tables
1 Emergency responses conducted under NEBRA 25
2 Emergency responses to exotic invasive ants, 2001 to 2018 27
3 National Border Surveillance detections of exotic environmental pests and diseases, 2017 to 2018 40
B1 Australian Government response to Senate inquiry recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019 57
B2 Australian Government response to Australian Greens recommendations and Agriculture actions to October 2018 73
C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019 76
D1 International agreements on environmental biosecurity 80
D2 Intergovernmental agreements on environmental biosecurity 81
D3 National, state and territory legislation on environmental biosecurity 81
D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity 84
1Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 1Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Review process
PurposeThe purpose of this review was to examine: • how the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) participates
in the broader biosecurity system to address environmental biosecurity concerns • processes to identify gaps in pathway and risk analyses and to improve
environmental biosecurity information gathering and sharing between jurisdictions.
ScopeThis review covered activities conducted by the Australian Government (particularly Agriculture) to help manage environmental biosecurity risks. These included: • governance and collaborative arrangements between Agriculture and state and
territory governments • how the Australian Government (particularly Agriculture)
– responded to previous reviews on environmental biosecurity – implemented the recommendations from these reviews – managed environmental biosecurity incursions
• how Agriculture helps manage environmental biosecurity risks by – identifying gaps in pathway and risk analyses, and – dealing with past incursions with major environmental impacts.
Out of scopeThis review did not examine in detail: • policies or activities that are the prime responsibility of the Department of the
Environment and Energy (Environment) • environmental biosecurity issues already covered in other Inspector-General
of Biosecurity (IGB) review reports, including the hitchhikers and contaminants review (IGB 2018).
Review process
2 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Potential risksPotential risks considered as part of this review included: • inadequacy and incorrect use of Agriculture’s methods to detect, identify and treat
threats to Australia’s environmental biosecurity • non-provision of appropriate and/or timely information to Agriculture by
stakeholders to allow it to carry out its responsibilities • non-provision of appropriate and/or timely information from Agriculture to
stakeholders to allow them to carry out their responsibilities • inadequacy of capacity and/or expertise to meet demands for environmental
biosecurity activities.
Review methodologyThe IGB: • reviewed relevant scientific literature, reports and departmental policies
and procedures • met with key stakeholders from agricultural and environmental sectors • circulated a discussion paper for public consultation • reviewed submissions from interested stakeholders • provided a draft report to Agriculture for response • published the report after consultation with the minister.
Review teamGlenn McMellon, Dr Naveen Bhatia and Clare Hamilton assisted the Inspector-General in this review.
3Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 3Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Summary
1 BackgroundAustralia has well-developed systems for managing biosecurity risks that threaten agriculture and human health. To protect our environment and ecosystems from ever-increasing risks of pests and diseases entering and establishing in Australia, we need improved institutional and funding arrangements and more targeted programs with greater research and innovation.
Pests and diseases already introduced to Australia threaten the existence of some of our unique flora and fauna and have contributed to Australia’s unenviable rate of species extinction. Many introduced invasive animals, weeds and pathogens (such as chytrid fungus of frogs and myrtle rust of many plant species) have proliferated and spread slowly but inexorably into many parts of the country, destroying or threatening native species and ecosystems. The challenges of preventing further incursions and establishment will only increase with greater trade and travel.
Biosecurity is increasingly recognised as a shared responsibility between agricultural industries and government. This has led to agricultural industries having greater involvement in managing and co-funding biosecurity for their industries. However, similar arrangements to protect the environment from major biosecurity risks have lagged because of greater complexity in prioritising potential threats and quantifying the public good in funding responses to incursions.
In 2015 the report of a Senate Inquiry into Environmental Biosecurity made 26 recommendations to address shortfalls in Australia’s environmental biosecurity arrangements. An Australian Greens minority report made a further eight recommendations. In 2017 a review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) made further recommendations on environmental biosecurity and a review of the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) was also carried out.
2 Regulation of environmental biosecurityInternationally, the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement) of the World Trade Organization accepts that a country may set an acceptable level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection (ALOP) by applying biosecurity risk management measures while minimising negative trade impacts. The United Nations (UN) Convention on Biological Diversity requires its 150 signatory countries (including Australia) to ‘as far as possible and as appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species’.
Summary
4 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
The Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) has primary responsibility for implementing pre-border and border biosecurity measures. Agriculture works with state and territory governments through the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) on post-border measures and programs. Industry peak bodies, such as Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia, and their levy funds share formal management and costs of key national agricultural, fisheries and forestry biosecurity programs. Animal Health Australia is the custodian of the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and AUSVETPLAN. Plant Health Australia is the custodian of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) and PLANTPLAN. These plans outline responses to agreed priority disease and pest incursions.
The Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy (Environment) works with state and territory governments on environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Environment has specific biosecurity responsibilities for regulating the import of live animals and plants after considering their potential environmental impact. However, there are no equivalent ‘environmental industry’ peak bodies with access to levy funds, so management and cost-sharing of national environmental biosecurity programs are largely arranged through governments. NEBRA provides for responses to nationally significant environmental incidents where a combined response provides mainly public benefits.
In 2018 a national environmental biosecurity stocktake found that governments invested almost $1 billion in 2016–17 in activities with direct and indirect environmental biosecurity impacts.
3 Evolving institutional arrangementsThe 2015 Senate inquiry report made several recommendations about a greater role for Environment in managing environmental biosecurity. However, the Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth) and the Australian Government response to the Senate inquiry clearly established Agriculture as the agency with primary responsibility for most aspects of federal biosecurity risk management. Many of the measures implemented by Agriculture protect Australia against environmental as well as agricultural pests and diseases. It is not practical or desirable to duplicate responsibilities.
In February 2018 the NBC replaced its Invasive Plants and Animals Committee with an Environment and Invasives Committee, with representatives from all government agricultural and environment agencies. The committee provides national policy leadership and technical and scientific advice on identifying, preventing and managing invasive species.
In late 2018 Agriculture appointed a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer (CEBO) to negotiate and implement federal environmental biosecurity programs and communicate with Environment and the community.
Agriculture has committed to developing a memorandum of understanding with Environment outlining their respective roles and responsibilities in delivering environmental biosecurity. This should reduce the potential for gaps or duplication of services and improve stakeholder bodies’ understanding of each department’s role.
Summary
5Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
4 Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions
Since 2013 responses to environmental pest and disease incursions have been managed according to the NEBRA. Most of the successful responses have been to exotic invasive tramp ant incursions. However, the most serious incursion of red imported fire ant (RIFA), which entered south-east Queensland about 20 years ago, is still not vanquished and is now under a 10-year eradication plan. Australian governments have spent or committed more than $800 million to fighting tramp ant incursions since 2001.
After detection, incursions are evaluated and many are found to be unfeasible or uneconomic to eradicate. In these cases they transition to management. The 2010 incursion of myrtle rust, a fungus that affects hundreds of native species such as eucalypts, was rapidly transitioned to management and has since spread from the NSW central coast across eastern Australia and to the Tiwi Islands, Norfolk Island and New Zealand. Some rare native Myrtaceae species are threatened with extinction. Seed collection and seedling rearing programs are being undertaken to avert this if possible.
5 Prioritising environmental biosecurity threats
The complexity of potential environmental biosecurity threats can seem overwhelming. Local and overseas experience can help us understand the potential impacts of new invasive animals and plants on native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and impacts of new diseases and pests on vulnerable native fauna and flora and on social amenity of different communities. Pathway and risk analyses are needed to prioritise and effectively combat such threats.
Agriculture is leading development of a national environmental pest and disease priority list, which will help to focus future preparedness activities. An extensive stakeholder consultation process will be followed by expert analysis to develop the first such list by the end of 2019. The list will then need to be updated periodically.
6 Surveillanceandwiderscientificandcommunity engagement
Regular border biosecurity risk management activities prevent entry of a huge range of pests and diseases, but some inevitably get through and could establish if not found promptly.
Since 2016 Agriculture has implemented a national border surveillance program at first points of entry and approved arrangements. This program targets known hitchhiker pest and contaminant risks, many of which threaten the environment. From 2017 to 2018 the program detected 42 exotic pests and diseases of environmental concern.
The Northern Australian Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) also conducts surveillance across a wide zone of northern Australia and offshore in neighbouring countries. NAQS has a strong Indigenous ranger program using traditional knowledge to find threats to native ecosystems.
Summary
6 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Post-border surveillance requires innovative approaches, high community awareness and engagement of all levels of government, as well as environmental non-government organisations and other groups. Ongoing research is also needed. Former Cooperative Research Centres for Invasive Animals and Australian Weeds Management were succeeded by a Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS). CISS was funded for five years from 2017 to 2022 to research, develop and implement collaborative portfolios to improve knowledge and innovation in invasive species management. CISS’ environmental biosecurity projects include:· environmental DNA freshwater vertebrate research· a national incursions management framework· upgrading of PestSmart and FeralScan digital platforms· new tools for surveillance and eradication· invasive species gene drive technology.
7 ConclusionAustralia’s framework for managing environmental biosecurity challenges has improved considerably since the Senate inquiry was published in 2015. The respective roles of Agriculture and Environment in implementing pre-border and border biosecurity risk management measures are clearer. A memorandum of understanding between the two departments should further clarify this. Agriculture has appointed a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer and now holds regular environmental biosecurity stakeholder forums for two-way communication about key issues and mechanisms to resolve them. The vast array of potential exotic pests, diseases, weeds and invasive animals that could damage Australia’s unique environment should be prioritised to ensure that the highest risks are targeted.Agriculture and Environment will need to engage with agricultural and environmental agencies in all jurisdictions, non-government organisations and communities to develop a greater acceptance of the shared responsibility for better biosecurity outcomes. The government should source a high level of scientific expertise and innovation, both nationally and internationally, to ensure that novel and more efficient solutions to new biosecurity threats can be rapidly developed and applied as needed.
7Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 7Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendations and departmental responses
The full departmental response to the recommendations is at Appendix A.
Recommendation 1
The department should include, in its forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of the Environment and Energy, roles and processes for the two departments, to agree on desired environmental biosecurity outcomes at the Australian Government level, including performance reporting over time.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Recommendation 2
The department, working with the Department of the Environment and Energy and through the National Biosecurity Committee, should promote the development of Memoranda of Understanding on environmental biosecurity in all Australian jurisdictions.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Recommendation 3
The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, through the Environment and Invasives Committee, should work with jurisdictions and environmental groups to prepare an environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness plan (strategy), incorporating the exotic environmental pest and disease list once it has been determined.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Recommendations and departmental responses
8 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation 4
The department should work with relevant environmental groups and agencies to develop and conduct environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness exercises.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Recommendation 5
The department should establish a dynamic and transparent environmental pest and disease risk prioritisation process, informed by new scientific knowledge, to allow emerging environmental pests and diseases to be added to the priority list as they arise. This list of priority environmental biosecurity pests and diseases, with the basis for their inclusion, should be published on the department’s website and continuously reviewed.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Recommendation 6
The department should ensure the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy program, and other surveillance programs, are coordinated with state and territory biosecurity surveillance activities and environmental biosecurity projects (as appropriate) to encourage collaborative resourcing and avoid possible duplication.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Recommendation 7
The department should work with relevant stakeholders to contribute to the development of environmental biosecurity plans targeting specific pests or diseases aimed at environmental sectors of concern, and include the community as much as possible.
Department’s response: Agreed.
Dr Helen Scott-Orr Inspector-General of Biosecurity 12 April 2019
9Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 9Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Chapter 1
Background
1.1 DefiningenvironmentalbiosecurityEnvironmental biosecurity is the protection of the environment and/or social amenity from the risks and negative effects of pests and diseases entering, emerging, establishing or spreading in Australia. Pests include invasive vertebrate and invertebrate animals and invasive plants (weeds).
The environment includes Australia’s natural terrestrial, inland water and marine ecosystems, their unique flora and fauna, and Australia’s natural and physical resources. Social amenity includes the social, economic and cultural aspects of the environment, including tourism, human infrastructure, cultural assets and national image. Environmental biosecurity targets pests and diseases that threaten native plants, animals or ecosystems, or the social amenity of Australia’s diverse communities.
Agricultural biosecurity focuses on pests and diseases that may cause economic impacts on Australia’s agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. The impacts can be from direct production losses, reduced market access and from the length of time and cost to recover. Exotic disease impacts are well documented from overseas outbreaks, such as foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom in 2001 (Scudamore & Harris 2002) and Xylella fastidiosa in Europe from 2013 (Strona, Carstens & Beck 2017). Potential entry pathways for priority agricultural pests and diseases are relatively well known and targeted by the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) across the biosecurity continuum according to risk (Figure 1). In contrast, quantifying the potential impacts of pest and disease incursions on the environment is difficult. This makes developing preparedness and response plans more difficult.
Background
10 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
FiGURE 1 The biosecurity continuum
Prevention, preparation,screening, detection
Pre-border activities(overseas)
IMPORTS ANDEXPORTS
Anticipation, prevention,preparation
Detection, response, recovery or adaptation
Borderactivities
Post-border activities(in Australia)
EXOTIC PESTSAND DISEASES
ESTABLISHED PESTSAND DISEASES
The environment is considered to be owned by all Australians with no environmental industries equivalent to agricultural industries. Most environmental organisations are not-for-profit or voluntary. Relevant research organisations largely depend on government or community group funding. Indigenous and other community groups have special relationships with the environments in which they live and move through. Engagement with these groups can be complex.
A review of threats to Australia’s imperilled species (Kearney et al. 2018) found that:
Since European occupation of Australia, human activities have caused the dramatic decline and sometimes extinction of many of the continent’s unique species. Here we provide a comprehensive review of threats to species listed as threatened under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Following accepted global categories of threat, we find that invasive species affect the largest number of listed species (1257 species, or 82% of all threatened species); ecosystem modifications (e.g. fire) (74% of listed species) and agricultural activity (57%) are also important.
Little information is available on the potential impact of many exotic pests and diseases on Australia’s native biota and natural ecosystems. The range and complexity of pests and diseases that may affect the environment far exceeds those of agricultural, fisheries and forestry industries. Quantifying the economic impacts of these pests and diseases, and the (mostly public) benefits of better environmental biosecurity outcomes can be difficult. However, Australia is aware of the continuing environmental impacts of past invasive pests and diseases, such as cane toads, carp, alligator weed and Phytophthora spp.
Management of environmental and agricultural biosecurity risks overlaps significantly, despite major differences in knowledge, impacts and economics. An ‘all-hazards’ approach—managing generic rather than specific biosecurity risks—is an appropriate risk management strategy.
Background
11Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
1.2 Environmental biosecurity reviewsSenate inquiry into environmental biosecurityIn 2015 the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee published Environmental biosecurity—an inquiry into the adequacy of arrangements to prevent the entry and establishment of invasive species likely to harm Australia’s natural environment (Senate Environment and Communication References Committee 2017). This was Australia’s first review dedicated to environmental biosecurity.
The Senate inquiry investigated the concept of environmental biosecurity, its treatment and performance within Australia’s current biosecurity system, and various proposals to strengthen environmental biosecurity in Australia. The inquiry included recommendations from previous reviews (Beale et al. 2008; Hawke 2009), the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) and communications between the Australian Government and state and territory governments.
The inquiry concluded that employing a risk-based approach to prioritising incursion pathways was important, given the limited resources available to government agencies. The inquiry listed mail, cargo, the horticulture industry and the live animal trade as pathways and industries that posed significant threats to Australia’s environmental biosecurity.
The inquiry made 26 recommendations to address shortfalls in Australia’s environmental biosecurity. The Senate Committee report included the Australian Greens Minority Report as an annexure, making eight additional recommendations.
In June 2017 the Australian Government tabled its response to the Senate inquiry. The response supported (fully or in principle) 19 Senate recommendations and one Australian Greens recommendation, noted five recommendations, and did not support two Senate and seven Australian Greens recommendations. Agriculture considers that it has committed to all necessary recommendations and that any ‘not supported’ or ‘noted’ recommendations or recommendations directed at another agency do not require further action. Appendix B details the Australian Government’s response and Agriculture’s actions up to March 2019 against all of the Senate inquiry recommendations.
Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity ReviewThe Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) is an agreement between the Australian Government and state and territory governments that came into effect in January 2012. Its purpose is to enhance Australia’s biosecurity system and strengthen the collaborative approach between the Australian Government and state and territory governments.
In 2017 an independent panel completed a review of the capacity of Australia’s biosecurity system and the IGAB. The review, Priorities for Australia’s Biosecurity System (IGAB review) made 42 recommendations, of which 10 directly or indirectly covered aspects of environmental biosecurity (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017).
The IGAB review found that, along with protection of Australia’s trade in tourism and agriculture, biosecurity helps to maintain Australia’s natural environments—valued by the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2017 at over $6 trillion (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017). It highlighted that environmental biosecurity should be addressed to ensure Australia can minimise the risk of impact of pest animals, pest plants and diseases on the Australian environment, human health and the economy.
Background
12 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
The review also found that biosecurity stakeholders wanted a greater say in decision-making about biosecurity issues and stronger arrangements for environmental biosecurity. Community and environmental biosecurity was a focus during the course of the review, finding that incursions of exotic organisms were regular occurrences, but that pest and disease risks were yet to be established. The review recommended that environment agencies must be central to the development of biosecurity policy and response arrangements.
In November 2018 Australian agricultural ministers accepted all 42 recommendations from the IGAB review. Several recommendations that directly and indirectly relate to environmental biosecurity were already in the process of being implemented. Agriculture’s progress in implementing these recommendations is set out in Appendix C.
13Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 13Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Chapter 2
Regulation of environmental biosecurity
2.1 International agreementsAustralia’s response to biosecurity issues is based on the requirements of the World Trade Organization Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS Agreement). The SPS Agreement defines the concept of an ‘appropriate level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection’ (ALOP) while minimising negative trade effects. Australia’s ALOP, agreed in 2002 with state and territory governments, is expressed as ‘providing a high level of sanitary and phytosanitary protection aimed at reducing risk to a very low level, but not zero’ (Agriculture and Environment 2014). Under the SPS agreement, management of trade to reduce risks of plant, animal and marine pests and diseases is guided by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO).
The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (Biodiversity Convention) requires that the parties shall ‘as far as possible and as appropriate, prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species’.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is the world’s most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of plant and animal species. It uses a set of criteria to evaluate the extinction risk of thousands of species and subspecies. These criteria are relevant to all species and all regions of the world. With its strong scientific base, the IUCN Red List is recognised as the most authoritative guide to the status of biological diversity.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement between governments. Its aim is to ensure that international trade in specimens of wild animals and plants does not threaten their survival.
Regulation of environmental biosecurity
14 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
2.2 Australian legal frameworkManagement of Australia’s environmental biosecurity risks is legislated at the Commonwealth level under the Biosecurity Act 2015 (the Biosecurity Act) and the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). Similar division of legal responsibility occurs at state and territory level. States and territories have primary responsibility under the Australian Constitution for managing matters within their boundaries. A list of policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia is at Appendix D.
The Biosecurity Act 2015 (Cth)The Biosecurity Act explains how we manage biosecurity threats to plant, animal and human heath in Australia and its external territories. The Act outlines how to determine the likelihood of a disease or pest entering or establishing itself in Australia and the potential for the disease or pest to cause harm to human, animal or plant health, or the environment, as well as the possible economic consequences. It is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture).
Sections 185 and 186 of the Biosecurity Act state ‘that a person commits an offence if the person imports a regulated live specimen’. What constitutes a regulated live specimen is determined under Section 303EB, which states that ‘the Environment Minister must establish a Live Import List. This must include two lists, one of unregulated species, and one of allowable regulated species’.
Under Section 443 of the Biosecurity Act, power is given to the Governor-General to declare a biosecurity emergency if the Agriculture Minister is satisfied that a disease or pest is threatening or causing nationally significant harm to the environment (among other criteria). However, ‘nationally significant’ is not defined.
The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999The EPBC Act aims to promote protection of the environment, sustainable use of natural resources, the conservation of biodiversity, and assist in implementing Australia’s international environmental responsibilities. It is administered by the Department of the Environment and Energy (Environment).
The EPBC Act provides for identification of key processes that threaten the survival, abundance or evolutionary development of a native species or ecological community, and the development of threat abatement and recovery plans. Since the commencement of the EPBC Act, 21 key threatening processes have been listed, including 14 caused by invasive pest and pathogen species. This led to the approval of 14 threat abatement plans (or threat abatement advices) to identify research management and other actions needed to reduce the impacts of the key threatening processes.
Regulation of environmental biosecurity
15Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
2.3 Roles of Agriculture and Environment in delivering environmental biosecurity
Agriculture implements measures and undertakes activities that minimise the threat of pests and diseases along the biosecurity continuum—offshore, at the border and onshore (within Australia) (Figure 2). Agriculture has primary responsibility for implementing pre-border and border biosecurity measures. For post-border measure and programs, Agriculture works with state and territory governments via the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC), and with industry and community bodies.
FiGURE 2 Agriculture’s activities conducted across the biosecurity continuum
At the border Onshore
Department of Agriculture and Water Resources activities
Offshore
• Import risk assessments• Offshore verifications• Inspections• Audits• Collaboration with
international partners• Building regional capacity• Intelligence and surveillance
to assess potential biosecurity risks
• Import permit decisions• Screening and inspection of
vessels, passengers, cargoand mail
• Managing risks of live plantand animal imports
• Audits and post-entry quarantine
• Raising biosecurity awarenessof travellers, importers and industry operators
• Policy and program development
• Coordinating surveillance and diagnostic capability
• Preparing for and respondingto incursions
• Research contributions• Assisting landholders to manage
established pests and diseases
To ensure effective and appropriate management of Australia’s environmental biosecurity risk, Agriculture: • works collaboratively with Environment to develop and implement policies and
programs that protect and conserve the environment • conducts risks analyses, including import risk analyses, to ensure that goods and
people arriving in Australia do not pose an unacceptable biosecurity risk, including to Australia’s environment
• provides inspection and certification services to facilitate the safe movement of people, goods and conveyances in and out of Australia
• partners with state and territory governments, industry and communities to manage pest and disease outbreaks that threaten Australia’s environment.
Agriculture considers it difficult and undesirable to manage biosecurity risk to the environment separately to managing biosecurity risk to animal, plant and human health. This view is shared by Plant Health Australia and the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF).
Environmental biosecurity is not entirely distinct from agricultural biosecurity as there is significant overlap in pests that affect plants grown for agricultural purposes and those found in the natural environment or have social amenity in urban spaces. An example is Xylella fastidiosa and its vector the glassy-winged sharpshooter (Plant Health Australia submission).
The NFF is of the view that environmental biosecurity should not be considered in isolation but rather be seen in the context of the broader biosecurity framework (National Farmers’ Federation submission).
Regulation of environmental biosecurity
16 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Despite the Senate inquiry recommending that Environment have a lead role in environmental biosecurity, the Australian Government response made it clear that Agriculture would be the lead agency as set out in the Biosecurity Act 2015.
Environment has specific responsibilities for regulating the import of live animals and plants, and works with states and territories to protect the environment and conserve biodiversity. Environment supports an integrated environmental biosecurity system led by Agriculture and supported by Environment’s expertise, responsibilities and legislative framework.
The import of live specimens such as animals and plants, seeds and biological control agents requires agreement between Agriculture and Environment. Only animals on the Live Import List are allowed; species not listed are prohibited. Each animal species is subject to a risk assessment by Environment of its potential environmental impacts. The Live Import List includes any live plant not included on the CITES list or a list of taxa prohibited due to their national invasive potential.
All new plant species, seeds, tissue culture or any other material for propagation are potential weeds. Agriculture uses the Australian Weed Risk Assessment (WRA) tool to assess applications for import of new plant and plant material. The WRA considers whether plant species have a high or low weed risk. However, the WRA allows the import of plants that are established weeds and are not on the Weeds of National significance list or under national control. This appears to contradict the definition of environmental biosecurity to reduce the risk of a pest spreading once established.
Biological control agents—organisms such as insects or pathogens that are used to control specific pests—are assessed by both departments. Only agents that are demonstrated to be target host-specific and where the potential consequences of off-target effects are assessed as meeting Australia’s acceptable level of protection, may be approved. Biological control agents are only deemed to be acceptably host specific if they do not successfully reproduce on any species other than the target. Risk analyses of weed biocontrol agents are released by the Plant Health Committee for inclusion of biocontrol agents on the Live Import List. A process for approving animal biological control targets and agents is being developed and should be followed once made available. The acceptance of biological control agents can take many years of research before approval is granted. Making a wrong decision can have very negative consequences for the environment, as was seen with cane toads (Bufo marinus).
2.4 National Biosecurity CommitteeThe Australian Government works with governments of all states and territories as well as with importers, producers and the community to manage biosecurity in a number of ways (Appendix E and Appendix F).
Most post-border government biosecurity work is progressed through the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) and its various subcommittees and working groups. Established in July 2008 under the IGAB, NBC membership comprises senior officials from the Australian Government, and from state and territory primary industry and environment departments.
Regulation of environmental biosecurity
17Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
The NBC is responsible for managing a national, strategic approach to all biosecurity threats—terrestrial and aquatic plant and animal pests and diseases, and their impacts on agriculture, the environment, community wellbeing and social amenity—and implements the IGAB. It is supported by four sectoral committees with secretariats from Agriculture that provide policy, technical and scientific advice on matters affecting their sector: • Animal Health Committee • Plant Health Committee • Marine Pest Sectoral Committee • Environment and Invasives Committee.
The NBC recognises that some roles and responsibilities rest solely within a single jurisdiction and will be implemented when required, following relevant consultation.
2.5 National environmental biosecurity stocktake
In February 2017 the NBC agreed to undertake a stocktake on the environmental biosecurity activities currently being undertaken by the Australian and state and territory governments.
The stocktake was undertaken to: • develop a more comprehensive understanding of environmental biosecurity activities • identify gaps in management of environmental biosecurity • identify and prioritise future activities to improve management of environmental
biosecurity and better align and integrate it with the national biosecurity system.
Twenty-four Australian Government, state and territory government agencies contributed data to the stocktake. This included agencies with responsibility for primary industries such as agriculture and fisheries, the environment and biodiversity conservation, parks, heritage, water, natural resources, and planning and development.
The stocktake identified a complex array of committees, forums and groups that support management of environmental biosecurity (Appendix G).
The stocktake found that government agencies undertook 296 environmental biosecurity activities in 2016–17. A conservative estimate of government investment in these activities was approximately $954 million. Of this, about 19 per cent ($179 million) was for activities with a direct (identifiable and quantifiable) environmental biosecurity benefit. The remaining $775 million was for activities with a supporting benefit (not easily identifiable and quantifiable) for environmental biosecurity.
18 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia18 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Chapter 3
Evolving institutional arrangements
3.1 Strengthening Australian Government arrangements
3.1.1 ChiefEnvironmentalBiosecurityOfficerThe IGAB review recommended ‘The Australian Government should establish the senior, expert position of Chief Community and Environmental Biosecurity Officer within the environment department. A far less preferred alternative is to house the position in the agriculture department’ (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017).
In October 2018 Agriculture appointed Dr Ian Thompson as Australia’s inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer (CEBO). The CEBO is the primary representative and advisor to the Australian Government on Australia’s environmental biosecurity risks. He oversees the delivery of an $825,000 per year project fund to drive investment in building environmental biosecurity capability and capacity.
The key objectives of the CEBO are to: • enhance understanding and oversight of environmental biosecurity risks • perform a national policy, engagement and leadership role • ensure that Australia’s environmental and community biosecurity risks are better
defined and prioritised • improve the maturity of Australia’s environmental biosecurity preparedness,
surveillance and response capacity.
The appointment of the CEBO was well received by stakeholders submitting to this review.
The appointment of a Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, albeit in the Agriculture portfolio, is a step forward. We urge the maximum possible leadership and support from the Commonwealth for a similar process at State and Territory level (Australian Network for Plant Conservation Inc. submission).
PHA acknowledges recent advancements in the management of environmental biosecurity including the appointment of the inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, Ian Thompson within the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, with a strong policy link to Environment Department, and whom PHA looks forward to working closely with (Plant Health Australia submission).
Evolving institutional arrangements
19Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
The CEBO will develop a mission statement for future environmental biosecurity to provide a ‘vision for success’, as well as a State of Environmental Biosecurity Statement, which will assess the condition of environmental biosecurity. Agriculture, through the CEBO, should work with the Environment and Invasives Committee to develop a strategic plan for environmental biosecurity, analogous to those for weeds, invasive animals and marine pests.
3.1.2 Threatened Species CommissionerEnvironment’s Threatened Species Commissioner, established in 2014, provides a national focus to conservation efforts, especially of Australian native flora and fauna facing extinction. The commissioner works collaboratively with the national Threatened Species Scientific Committee, established under the EPBC Act, the community (including the non-profit sector), industry, scientists and all levels of government to find solutions to avoid the extinction of Australia’s native species. The Commissioner explicitly raises awareness of, and support for, threatened species in the community. The role includes building on, and instigating, initiatives and strategic approaches to threatened species conservation.
The Threatened Species Commissioner is responsible for the Threatened Species Strategy. The five-year strategy from 2015 to 2020 includes an action plan, setting out areas for the Australian Government to focus its efforts to help conserve threatened species.
The commissioner has a well-established social media presence, including on Facebook and Twitter, and regular direct engagement with the conservation community. The commissioner has offered to use these networks to assist the NBC, sectoral committees and the CEBO, and to promote education and awareness of environmental biosecurity issues.
3.1.3 Memorandum of understanding between Agriculture and Environment
Agriculture manages certain responsibilities under the Biosecurity Act through collaboration with other government agencies. In most cases this is through a formal arrangement such as a memorandum of understanding (MoU). The MoU sets out the representation, working relationship, expectations, responsibilities and duties of both departments at strategic, policy and operational levels. Agriculture has biosecurity MoUs with the Department of Defence, Department of Health and the Department of Home Affairs (Border Force).
The Senate inquiry, the IGAB and the NEBRA reviews all recognised that environmental biosecurity is as important as human health and agricultural biosecurity. Agriculture’s CEBO is developing an MoU with Environment about environmental biosecurity. This MoU should outline processes for the two departments to jointly agree on desired environmental biosecurity outcomes at the Australian Government level and report regularly on their performance effectiveness.
Outcome-focused measures could include indicators for prevention (for example, potential invasive species detected and stopped at the border or post-border) and eradication or control of key environmental pest incursions.
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20 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation 1
The department should include, in its forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of the Environment and Energy, roles and processes for the two departments, to agree on desired environmental biosecurity outcomes at the Australian Government level, including performance reporting over time.
Department’s response: The department has been meeting regularly with officials from the Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE) to discuss the development of a formalised arrangement on environmental biosecurity. The meetings to date have been productive and the department will continue to work with DoEE on developing shared biosecurity outcomes and further opportunities for collaboration including on improved data sharing, stakeholder engagement and environmental biosecurity preparedness.
To provide opportunities to improve environmental biosecurity communication and participation, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage considers that the Australian Government should provide national coordination to help establish cross-jurisdictional and inter-jurisdictional communication platforms/mechanisms related to environmental biosecurity. This could be achieved by promoting the development of similar MoUs on environmental biosecurity between primary industries and environmental agencies in each state and territory.
Recommendation 2
The department, working with the Department of the Environment and Energy and through the National Biosecurity Committee, should promote the development of Memoranda of Understanding on environmental biosecurity in all Australian jurisdictions.
Department’s response: Department’s response: The department will promote the development of Memoranda of Understanding on environmental biosecurity through the National Biosecurity Committee, with input from the Department of the Environment and Energy, and relevant State and Territory representatives.
3.2 Strengthening inter-governmental arrangements under NBC
3.2.1 Past management of invasive animals and plantsLongstanding arrangements were in place under the NBC to manage pest animals through the Vertebrate Pest Committee and weeds through the Australian Weeds Committee, focussing on the impact of established invasive pests on agriculture and the environment. In 2014 the committees were combined into the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee (IPAC), which developed an Australian Pest Animal Strategy and an Australian Weeds Strategy, both from 2017–2027. However, there was growing awareness of the need for better management of other environmental pests and diseases that can affect native plants, wildlife and ecosystems.
Evolving institutional arrangements
21Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
3.2.2 Environment and Invasives CommitteeIn February 2018 the NBC replaced IPAC with the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC). The EIC allows Agriculture to work with Environment and state and territory governments on environmental biosecurity issues. It provides national policy leadership and technical and scientific advice on the identification, prevention and management of invasive plant, freshwater, vertebrate and invertebrate species that adversely impact the environment, economy and community, unless they are within the scope of another NBC subcommittee.
Voting members comprises representatives from primary industry and environment departments of all governments, with observers from CSIRO, the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Plant Health Australia, Animal Health Australia and Wildlife Health Australia. Stakeholders’ submissions to this review suggest that the membership of the EIC could be further extended.
The composition of the EIC, as currently constituted, lacks a perspective for harnessing Australian (and regional) environmental expertise and providing a wider window of access and communication to the scientific part of the environmental sector. There are no New Zealand or regional observers or representation by key scientific professional organisations such as the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA), Australian Mammal, Entomological, and Mycological Societies and Birds Australia, Council of Heads of Australian Faunal Collections (CHAFC), and the Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria (CHAH). ESA nominates one member of the NSW Threatened Species Scientific Committee for extinction-risk listings (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).
OEH suggests that NBC (or other appropriate body/agency) continue to encourage jurisdictional representatives to liaise with their environmental agencies regarding the opportunities and benefits to providing environmental representation on EIC, such that EIC will include all jurisdictional environment agencies (even if only as corresponding members for information sharing purposes). Communication between primary industry and environment agencies in some jurisdictions is often limited. Direct communication and information sharing for environmental departments via representation on the EIC would assist in strengthening biosecurity communication (NSW Office of Environment and Heritage submission).
The EIC has formed a subgroup called the Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group to provide advice to the EIC on national policy and effective stakeholder engagement in environmental biosecurity. The advisory group will be chaired by the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer and consist of 11 non-government members with a national and strategic environmental and/or community outlook.
The NBC has referred its Environmental biosecurity stocktake to the EIC for consideration of next steps. This report is not publicly available.
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22 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation 3
The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer, through the Environment and Invasives Committee, should work with jurisdictions and environmental groups to prepare an environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness plan (strategy), incorporating the exotic environmental pest and disease list once it has been determined.
Department’s response: The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will work with the Environment and Invasives Committee, Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group and other relevant stakeholders to further develop and refine environmental biosecurity preparedness arrangements, including where appropriate, individual biosecurity plans for species or ecological communities. Work is currently underway to develop a biosecurity plan for acacia species and will be used as a pilot to develop future plans, informed by priorities identified in the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests and Diseases.
3.2.3 Marine Pest Sectoral CommitteeFrom the 1990s Australia progressively strengthened its management of the risks of international shipping bringing marine pests into new ports and waters by ballast water or by biofouling. In 2011 the NBC formed a Marine Pest Sectoral Committee (MPSC) to develop and coordinate implementation of harmonised, national arrangements to identify, minimise and address the pest risk to Australia’s marine environment and associated industries. The committee plays an advocacy role within government to highlight the impact of marine pests on Australia’s marine environment and associated industries. The MPSC comprises two representatives from the Australian Government and one government representative from each state and the Northern Territory. Members are from the agency with responsibility for marine pest issues within each jurisdiction, but bring a whole-of-government position to MPSC discussions. New Zealand is a standing observer and another three observers are representatives based on technical/scientific expertise.
The MPSC developed MarinePestPlan 2018–2023, the national strategic plan for managing Australia’s marine pest biosecurity. Agriculture has worked with the MPSC to: • develop and use new technologies and methods for surveillance for marine invasive
species and diseases • apply evidence-based and data-based decision-making for risk assessments • focus on prevention and international consistency and application of requirements • contribute to international efforts to inform requirements under the
Ballast Water Management Convention • participate in meetings of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to
influence and develop international standards, and • use innovation and broad stakeholder involvement to solve complex marine
biosecurity problems.
23Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 23Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Chapter 4
Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions
4.1 Planning and preparednessEmergency response preparedness and management plans and strategies are in place for priority pests of most agricultural industries. Formal management and cost-sharing of key national emergency response programs involve agricultural industry peak bodies and their levy funds via Animal Health Australia (AHA) and Plant Health Australia (PHA). AHA is the custodian of the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) between 23 signatories, and AUSVETPLAN, which covers 66 animal diseases and pests. PHA is the custodian of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) between 47 signatories, and PLANTPLAN, which covers 82 plant pests and diseases. Many of the priority plant pests managed by PHA are pests of both agriculture and the environment, as are a number of avian and aquatic animal diseases managed through AHA.
There is provision under the EPPRD to manage pests which, if not eradicated, may result in major environmental damage to natural ecosystems, potentially affect human health or cause a nuisance to humans, or cause significant damage to amenity flora. For example, the response to the myrtle rust incursion into New South Wales in 2010 was managed through the EPPRD, until it was determined it was not technically feasible to eradicate the disease.
AHA and PHA support Australia’s preparedness for pest and disease incursions through biosecurity training and running live biosecurity emergency response simulation exercises. This helps stakeholders to actively analyse the risks posed by high priority pests and implement practices and procedures to rapidly detect and respond to an incursion, minimising potential impacts.
Agriculture prepares for its role in these exercises and other incident responses by: • developing internal response plans and arrangements • establishing resources and logistics • conducting training and education activities • designing, conducting and evaluating exercises • evaluating activities.
Exercises are usually specific to high priority agricultural diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease. AHA and PHA could include environmental biosecurity as part of the development of these biosecurity emergency response scenarios.
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24 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation 4
The department should work with relevant environmental groups and agencies to develop and conduct environmental biosecurity emergency preparedness exercises.
Department’s response: Work has begun on the development of a simulation exercise to test Australia’s capability to respond to the detection of an exotic disease in a non-production animal using the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA). This work will be funded by the Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund and will test and identify potential gaps in our environmental biosecurity preparedness.
In October 2018 a National Biosecurity Emergency Preparedness Expert Group completed a Review of preparedness and response capability for environmental biosecurity incidents, finding that: • planning and plans for managing the response to environmental biosecurity
incidents are less mature than for the animal health and plant health sectors • many environmental emergency response plans rely on existing animal and
plant plans • adequate resources for training, preparation exercises, technical expertise and
operational response are not available • the range of environmental threats has not been fully identified • threat-specific plans have not been extensively developed within the
environmental biosecurity sector.
4.2 National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement
Unlike agricultural industries, the ‘environmental industry’ has no equivalent peak bodies with access to levy funds, so management of cost-shared national environmental biosecurity programs is arranged solely through governments. In 2012 the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) was set up under the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. It provides for responses to nationally significant environmental biosecurity incidents impacting the environment and/or social amenity, such as weeds, tramp ants and marine pests, where a combined response provides mainly public benefits. Half the cost is funded by the Australian Government with the other half shared among states and territories.
The NEBRA has officially been used for five cost-shared eradication responses, including three separate red imported fire ant (RIFA) incursions in Port Botany, Yarwun, and Brisbane airport; browsing ant in Darwin; and Macao paper wasps on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands (Table 1).
Responding to environmental pest and disease incursions
25Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Fire ants were detected and eradicated twice at Yarwun (near Gladstone) Queensland—first between 2006 and 2010, and then again between 2013 and 2017, following successful surveillance, baiting and direct nest injection techniques. The second Yarwun incursion was the first eradication response to be managed under the NEBRA.
In November 2014 fire ants were detected at Port Botany in Sydney (just outside a stacked container area). An immediate 2 km surveillance zone was established over 366 hectares containing over 2,000 residential homes, businesses, other port facilities and playgrounds. Traps and odour detector dogs were used for surveillance and eradication declared in 2017.
In July 2015 browsing ants (Lepisiota frauenfeldi) were detected at Darwin seaport. In 2017 the NBMCC agreed that it was technically feasible and cost beneficial to eradicate browsing ants from Australia, through a coordinated baiting and spraying program. The first response plan (2015–16 to 2017–18) did not achieve eradication. The NT Government put forward a second plan from 2017–18 to 2021–22. In January 2018 the National Biosecurity Management Group (NBMG) committed $5.4 million to eradicate browsing ants from the Northern Territory by mid 2021 under the NEBRA. This agreement superseded the original response plan because browsing ants were detected on more properties in Darwin than initially budgeted for.
In September 2015 RIFA were detected at Brisbane Airport by a member of the public. The nest was destroyed and an emergency response initiated under the NEBRA. The NBMG hopes to be able to declare proof of freedom for this site in 2019.
In April 2015 the Macao paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus) was first detected on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. In 2016 a two-year eradication program conducted under the NEBRA began but encountered difficulties. The wasp could breed rapidly and colonise dense forest, becoming difficult to effectively locate, delimit, treat and contain, because many islands in the group are densely forested and challenging to access. In September 2018 the NBMG determined that the Macao paper wasp was no longer technically feasible to eradicate from Cocos (Keeling) Islands under the NEBRA. The WA Government conducted wind-down activities until the end of 2018. Ongoing management of the wasp will be led by the Australian Government Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities, which administers the islands.
TABLE 1 Emergency responses conducted under NEBRA
Species Location Year Status Cost
RIFA (Solenopsis invicta) Queensland, Yarwun 2013–2017 Eradicated 2017 $2,636,628
RIFA (Solenopsis invicta) New South Wales, Port Botany
2014–2017 Eradicated 2017 $998,751
Browsing ant (Lepisiota frauenfeldi)
Northern Territory, Darwin port
2015–16 to 2017–18 Lapsed response phase $1,100,000
Browsing ant (Lepisiota frauenfeldi)
Northern Territory, Darwin
2017–18 to 2021–22 Response phase $5,400,000
RIFA (Solenopsis invicta) Queensland, Brisbane Airport
2015–2018 NBMG to consider proof of freedom
$343,002
Macao paper wasp (Polistes olivaceus)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands 2016–2018 Transition to management
$193,000
RiFA Red imported fire ant. NBMG National Biosecurity Management Group.
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26 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
In 2017 an independent review of the NEBRA, after five years of operation, made 16 recommendations (Appendix H) across five themes: • the need for greater involvement of environmental agencies and system
participants in the NEBRA activities • the need for an enhanced custodian role to allow for greater transparency around
the NEBRA activities • revising the approach to assess the national significance and cost benefit
of eradication • cost-sharing emergency containment activities under the NEBRA or
another mechanism • restructuring the NEBRA in line with the four phases of an emergency plant pest
response, detailed in the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed.
By February 2019 implementation of several recommendations was already completed or in progress (Appendix H). The Australian Government is working with other NEBRA signatories to respond to the review through the National Biosecurity Committee.
4.3 Incursion response case studies4.3.1 Exotic invasive ants—responses mostly successfulExotic invasive ants, also called tramp ants, are some of the world’s most invasive pests because of their devastating environmental, economic and social impacts. Since 2001 20 serious tramp ant incursions have occurred, including 16 incursions of RIFA (Table 2).
Between 2001 and 2017 Australian and state and territory governments, in a cost-shared response, spent more than $366 million to contain a RIFA incursion south-west of Brisbane. The fire ants may have entered in the 1990s and were widely established. In July 2017 Australian and state and territory agriculture ministers together committed a further $411.4 million over 10 years to the National Red Imported Fire Ant Eradication Program. When the $10.5 million for the NEBRA responses to ant incursions is added, Australia has spent or allocated more than $800 million for exotic invasive ant control since 2001.
The yellow crazy ant (Anoplolepis gracilipes) is listed as one of the top 100 worst invasive species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and the Global Invasive Species Database. First discovered in Cairns in 2001, the ants have been found at more than 20 sites in Queensland and in a large, scattered population in Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. On Christmas Island, yellow crazy ants have killed millions of red land crabs and robber crabs, both of which play an important role in Christmas Island’s forest floor ecology.
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27Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
In May 2018 a yellow crazy ant infestation was found in Lismore, New South Wales. A month later an additional infestation was discovered 30 km north of Lismore, at Terania Creek. Extensive community-based surveillance and eradication efforts led by the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) are ongoing.
The NBC is developing the National Invasive Ant Biosecurity Plan 2018–2028. The plan, yet to be endorsed, provides a nationally agreed approach to enhance Australia’s capacity to manage the ongoing threat of invasive ants establishing in Australia, and the impacts caused by those species already established.
TABLE 2 Emergency responses to exotic invasive ants, 2001 to 2018
Year Location Pest Detection type Result
2001 to 2026–27
South-east Queensland RIFA Incursion Response phase
2001 Port of Brisbane RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2012
2001 Cairns Yellow crazy ant
Incursion Response phase
2004 Port of Brisbane RIFA Border breach Eradicated 2004
2006 Cairns Electric ant Incursion Transition to management
2006 Yarwun, Queensland RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2010
2006 Melbourne RIFA Interception Eradicated 2006
2007 Darwin RIFA Interception Eradicated 2007
2009 Lytton, Queensland RIFA Border breach Eradicated 2009
2009 Port of Brisbane RIFA Interception Eradicated 2009
2009 South Australia RIFA Interception Eradicated 2009
2013 Yarwun, Queensland RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2017
2011 Roma, Queensland RIFA Border breach Eradicated 2011
2011 Western Australia RIFA Interception Eradicated 2011
2014 Port of Brisbane RIFA Interception Eradicated 2014
2014 Port Botany, New South Wales
RIFA Incursion Eradicated 2017
2015 Melbourne RIFA Interception Eradicated 2015
2015 Darwin Port Browsing ant Incursion Response phase
2016–2018 Brisbane Airport RIFA Incursion Response phase
2018 Lismore, New South Wales
Yellow crazy ant
Incursion Response phase
RiFA Red imported fire ant.
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28 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
4.3.2 Myrtle rust—too widespread to eradicateMyrtle rust, caused by the fungus Austropuccinia psidii, is a highly infectious disease that affects plants in the Myrtaceae species, such as eucalypts, willow myrtle, turpentine, bottlebrush, paperbark, tea tree and lilly pilly.
Myrtle rust was detected in April 2010 on the Central Coast of New South Wales. The sample was initially diagnosed as Uredo rangelii by the NSW DPI, which initiated an emergency response on 23 April 2010. The response was conducted under the EPPRD because the NEBRA did not come into effect until 2012.
On 27 April 2010 the Consultative Committee on Emergency Plant Pests (CCEPP) decided that more surveillance was needed to determine the extent of the spread of the rust. The CCEPP had representatives from Agriculture, state and territory primary industries’ agencies and representatives from affected parties. Notably, the forest industry was not a signatory of the EPPRD and not deemed to be an affected industry. The CCEPP also had no senior representatives from the environmental sector.
On 30 April 2010, one week after the emergency response began, the CCEPP determined that A. psidii was not technically feasible to eradicate and ceased the emergency response. NSW government agencies continued surveillance and containment activities with much reduced resources. This revealed good control on infected properties and limited spread from them.
On 2 July 2010 the CCEPP restarted the emergency response under the EPPRD, following pressure from Plant Health Australia, the Nursery and Garden Industry Australia and the Australasian Plant Pathology Society. This resulted in a substantial increase in resources directed to surveillance, tracing, quarantine and treatment.
On 28 October 2010 A. psidii was found in native vegetation, and following optimum environmental conditions, the spread of myrtle rust escalated. Surveillance increased to over 1,600 inspections on more than 1,300 properties. On 2 December 2010 the CCEPP determined that eradication was no longer feasible and stopped the emergency response. The recoverable cost of the EPPRD response was $3.5 million.
From 2011 to 2013 the Australian Government funded a $1.5 million transition to a management program. Myrtle rust has now spread into Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, the Tiwi Islands (Northern Territory), Norfolk Island, New Caledonia and New Zealand. Myrtle rust is not able to be directly managed other than by exclusion from unaffected areas.
Several criticisms of the myrtle rust emergency response (Carnegie & Pegg 2018) included: • the haste at which the original response was stopped • confusion around the correct taxonomy, which led to slow responses • poor use of published resources on response procedures • environmental threats not given sufficient weight in decision-making • inadequate resourcing.
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29Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Myrtle rust does not impact human or animal health, although loss of affected plant species will impact some animal species or ecosystem integrity. Some severely affected areas in south-east Queensland have lost their bird life—a devastating outcome.
A draft action plan was developed by the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre for a coordinated response to myrtle rust research and on-ground actions (Makinson 2018) but had not been funded at the time this report was prepared.
Since the 2010 incursion one ‘pandemic’ strain of A. psidii has naturalised in Australia. Three-hundred-and-fifty-eight susceptible Australian native plant species in the Myrtaceae family have been identified, four species of which are approaching extinction as a result of myrtle rust disease. Botanical gardens are attempting to grow specimens of some of these threatened species. Lenwebbia sp, a small tree growing in high altitude rainforest in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, is likely to become the first myrtle rust-mediated extinction in Australia. Further strains in South America, Central America and South Africa could severely impact eucalypt species.
This myrtle rust incursion demonstrates the extreme difficulty in dealing with a pathogen of such a wide range of native species.
30 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia30 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Chapter 5
Prioritising environmental biosecurity threats
5.1 Environmental pest and disease priority listThe complexity of potential environmental biosecurity threats can seem overwhelming. Local and overseas experience can help us understand the potential impacts of new invasive animals and plants on native terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, the impacts of new diseases and pests on vulnerable native fauna and flora, and the impacts on social amenity of different communities. Some pests may attack immediately vulnerable biota but also potentially cause cascading ecological effects. Extended pathway and risk analyses are needed to prioritise and effectively combat such threats.
Prioritising biosecurity threats is important to ensure that contingency arrangements for the highest risks can be put in place. A longstanding national Emergency Animal Disease list, a more recently developed National Priority Plant Pest list and a draft Australian Priority Marine Pest List allow disease-specific and pest-specific contingency plans, enabling prompt and appropriate risk management.
In 2011 the Vertebrate Pest Committee and the Australian Weeds Committee collaborated to produce a National Categorisation System for Invasive Species, which was endorsed by the NBC. This defined criteria for different categories of invasive species: • Category 1—National surveillance—the taxon is not known to be in Australia and
poses a potential ‘significant national threat’ to the environment and ecosystems; to people, including human infrastructure and social amenity; or to business activity.
• Category 2—National eradication—the taxon is currently a nationally agreed, cost-shared target or has satisfied the NEBRA criteria for eradication.
• Category3—Establishedinvasivespeciesofnationalsignificance—the taxon is already an established pest or weed of national significance or has potential to become one, is already present, deemed ineradicable and requires nationally coordinated management.
• Category 4—National restriction on keeping, sale and trade—the taxon is nationally agreed as requiring these restrictions in every state and territory and has consistent national border restrictions for international recognition of its official control.
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In July 2017 Agriculture, through the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES), began developing a national priority list of exotic environmental pests. The EIC agreed to sponsor the list, which includes: • weeds and freshwater algae • vertebrate pests • marine pests • aquatic animal disease • animal disease • plant pathogens • terrestrial invertebrates • freshwater invertebrates.
The list is intended to help with: • identifying pests, weeds and diseases that are likely to cause nationally important
negative impacts on Australia’s environment and social amenity • informing more efficient and effective targeting of activities and resources towards
these environmental pests, weeds and diseases, which may include developing preparedness and response plans and guiding surveillance and detection activities
• raising government, industry and community awareness of, and engagement with, these environmental pests, weeds and diseases.
To begin developing the priority list, Agriculture hosted two stakeholder workshops. The first, in March 2018, was attended by Environment, all Australian jurisdictions, the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries, CSIRO, the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS), the Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA), Wildlife Health Australia and Animal Health Australia (AHA). At the workshop, participants agreed to the vision and purpose of the list and the methodology to be used—a modified semi-quantitative delphi approach.
The second workshop was held in June 2018. This was attended by representatives from the first workshop as well as Wildlife Disease Association Australia, Plant Health Australia, researchers from universities and museums throughout Australia, and environmental consultants from private organisations. They tested the methodology for use in an expert elicitation process.
Using this agreed process, experts will assess candidate species for the priority list until March 2019. In April 2019 a targeted consultation process with NBC sectoral committees will begin. The CEBO will coordinate an open public consultation in mid 2019, and aims to publish the final list on Agriculture’s website by the end of 2019, following endorsement by the EIC and the NBC.
We strongly support ABARES but are unclear what level of consultation will be applied. Agriculture should set a response period for public consultation to account for acute staff shortages in many environmental organisations (including many of the agencies as well as NGOs). A longer rather than shorter consultation period is advised (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).
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32 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
ABARES should provide the data that have been used to assess the priority list during the public consultation phase. Sharing these data will assist the deliberations of many small environmental and community groups who may wish to have input into the process.
The IGAB review recommended that the national priority lists be reviewed every five years (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017). However, once established, developing a dynamic priority risk process to allow emerging environmental pests and diseases to be added will be more important. The Environmental Pest and Disease Priority list should also be subject to regular review, with opportunity for input from scientists and environmental and community groups.
Setting of national priority lists can have inadvertent perverse outcomes, for example the Weeds of National Significance (WONS) list had desirable effects in concentrating investment in control, but arguably led to under-investment in more localised environmental problem species which have since grown such as Ox-eye Daisy. (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission)
Recommendation 5
The department should establish a dynamic and transparent environmental pest and disease risk prioritisation process, informed by new scientific knowledge, to allow emerging environmental pests and diseases to be added to the priority list as they arise. This list of priority environmental biosecurity pests and diseases, with the basis for their inclusion, should be published on the department’s website and continuously reviewed.
Department’s response: The department is working with ABARES to prepare and finalise the National Priority List of Exotic Environmental Pests and Diseases. Once the process is complete and each of the sectoral committees (Environment and Invasives Committee, Animal Health Committee, Marine Pests Sectoral Committee, Plant Health Committee) have been consulted on the list, the department will engage stakeholders and ensure thorough consultation on the draft list. Following consultation, the list and final report will go to the Environment and Invasives Committee and the National Biosecurity Committee for endorsement.
The priority list, along with the basis for pest & disease inclusion, will be published on the department’s website. The Environmental Biosecurity Office and Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will play a key role in using the data from the list to develop policies that guide priority areas of work in environmental biosecurity. The list will be routinely reviewed every five years, with the first review to occur in three years. The review will include revision of the purpose, use, criteria and methodology. Provision will also be made for ad-hoc amendments to the list, which will allow for the timely addition or removal of a species to ensure that the list remains up-to-date. This process will be coordinated through the Environment and Invasives Committee, in consultation with the relevant sectoral committees.
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5.2 Gaps in pathway and risk analysisA great deal of effort has gone into conducting comprehensive pathway and risk analyses for agricultural pests and diseases in an attempt to underpin import conditions and pre-border, border and post-border controls to manage their risks. However, significant knowledge gaps for non-commodity risks and pathways of environmental threats remain. The pathways for different classes of environmental pests should be considered.
5.2.1 Hitchhiker pestsA recent review of hitchhiker pest and contaminant biosecurity risk management in Australia (IGB 2018) revealed how Agriculture is managing the risks of external and internal contamination of vessels and aircraft, sea and air containers and other cargo. The review highlighted environmental and agricultural hitchhiker pests such as exotic invasive ants, exotic bees and bee mites such as Varroa destructor, pests of many plant species such as brown marmorated stink bugs and giant African snails, and forestry pests such as Asian gypsy moth and burnt pine longicorn beetles.
The review found that challenges posed to Australia by hitchhiker pests and contaminants are increasing, due to greater global trade and movement of people, pests, and diseases around the world. Other countries may not prioritise preventative measures as much as Australia and New Zealand, since certain pests may be endemic there or not pose the same level of risk.
It concluded that, although Agriculture’s efforts to manage the risks of hitchhiker and contaminant entry by many pathways, notably ships, aircraft and air cargo, are impressive, the more difficult and complex tasks of preventing hitchhikers and contaminants from entering on or in sea cargo are not easy to manage. The greatest and least mitigated risk is from external and internal contamination of sea containers.
Finding external contamination with soil, insects, snails and seeds depends largely on onerous and under-resourced manual inspection processes that need innovative automation to become more efficient. Risks are likely to increase with the greater emphasis on rail shipment of containers out of ports to intermodal hubs and beyond. Disturbed verges of rail tracks provide ideal habitat for red imported fire ants and other tramp ants and exotic pests that can fall off the base of containers with soil. The review recommended automatic washing facilities for sea containers be built into port rail entry points. However, little progress has been made on this recommendation, so external sea container biosecurity risks remain unmitigated.
5.2.2 Invasive animalsThe environmental and agricultural damage done by established invasive animals such as rabbits, foxes, rats and mice, wild dogs, feral cats and feral pigs is well known and requires ongoing control. Other large animals such as camels, deer, goats and brumbies are also emerging or periodic environmental pests, but control of these can be more emotive. Preventing new, potentially invasive animals entering is a high priority. Pathways include legal or illegal importation of unusual pets, imports of ornamental fish with invasive potential, and illegal smuggling of exotic reptiles and birds (either as adults or eggs).
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Illegal smuggling of live animals is often detected by standard border protection methods. On 13 December 2018 biosecurity officers detected two live squirrels being smuggled on a flight from Bali, Indonesia (Agriculture 2018). However, not all illegal imports are detected at the border. In July 2018 biosecurity and environment officers raided a house in Canberra and seized hundreds of exotic ant species (Brown 2017). Officials were alerted by several concerned members of the public after the owner had attempted to sell them online.
Environment’s classification of animals for the Live Import List is a key means of preventing new invasive animal species entering and establishing, provided their invasive potential is recognised (Box 1).
Box 1 The Live Import List was used to ban Savannah cat imports
A Savannah cat is a cross between a domestic cat and a serval—a medium-sized, large-eared wild African cat. This unusual cross became popular among US cat breeders at the end of the 1990s, and in 2001 was accepted as a new registered breed. Savannahs are larger than domestic cats and can leap up to 2.5 m high from a standing position. By 2008 pet dealers were applying to import Savannah cats into Australia. Australian wildlife scientists and the Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre realised their potential to escape from captivity and breed with feral cats, creating a ‘supercat’ that could exterminate even more native marsupials. Australia did not need a more efficient feral cat. In August 2008 the Environment Minister changed the definition of ‘domestic cat’ on the Live Import List to rule out cats with serval genes.
Exotic hybrid pets, including wolf-dogs and other hybrid cat breeds, continue to be developed and Environment is considering how best to address the risk that hybrid animals may pose to Australia's environment.
5.2.3 Wildlife and plant diseasesAnimal and plant diseases may be carried into Australia by the import of animals or plants carrying them or on the clothing and footwear of people who have been in contact overseas with host species for the various pathogens. Recognition of specialised pathways is essential to target community advice to potential risk creators.
For example, the risk of white nose syndrome in bats being spread by hikers or cavers identified that specialised and targeted biosecurity guidelines were needed to manage the risks of this pathway (Box 2).
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Box 2 Biosecurity guidelines for white nose syndrome in bats
White nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging disease caused by the fungus Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which affects hibernating bats. First identified in New York in 2006, it has caused the deaths of more than 5 million cave-hibernating bats across North America. The fungus that causes WNS can spread between caves by surviving on clothing, footwear and caving gear.
Australia is free of WNS but the movement of cavers, researchers, karst managers, tourists (and their equipment) between affected caves in China, Europe and North America and caves in Australia is one pathway that the disease-causing fungus could enter Australia. Agriculture recognises the risks that international cavers visiting Australia may introduce WNS and has provided some guidelines including:
• do not bring into Australia any clothing, footwear and caving gear that has been used in other countries
• contact Australian caving groups to ask about loan gear
• if you must bring personal gear comply with published cleaning protocols to decontaminate gear before and after field trips.
5.2.4 InvasivefishInvasive fish such as carp, mosquito fish and tilapia have tremendous environmental impacts, crowding out native species and destroying many habitats. A massive and controversial biocontrol program for carp is under consideration, while an intense surveillance program is attempting to detect and prevent tilapia from extending its range from south-eastern Queensland rivers into the Murray–Darling Basin.
Thirty-four exotic freshwater fish species have already established in Australia—22 from ornamental/aquarium releases, eight from acclimatisation, two from ballast water, one aquaculture species (carp) and one failed biocontrol (gambusia) (Lintermans 2004). Two of these species, brown trout (Salmo trutta) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), are considered a valuable recreational fishing resource and are actively restocked (government funded) in Australian waterways despite being on the IUCN list of the world’s most invasive alien species.
5.2.5 Aquatic animal diseasesAquatic animal diseases may be imported on ornamental fish. For example, species of iridovirus that cause infectious spleen and kidney necrotic disease in gourami have been shown to be able to spread in water and cause severe disease in Australian native fish species such as golden perch. In March 2016 Agriculture implemented new pre-export iridovirus-free certification requirements for imported freshwater ornamental fish that belong to the gourami, cichlid and poeciliid groups. However, this is only a small section of the more than 5,000 species of fish in the global aquarium trade, many of which are poorly known or difficult to identify as fingerlings and have poorly-defined disease-carrying potential.
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In August 2017 Agriculture and Environment worked with the aquarium industry to close down the illegal trade of Cajun dwarf crayfish (Cambarellus shufeldtii)—a known carrier of crayfish plague, an exotic disease that has had catastrophic effects on endangered native crayfish populations in other countries. Environment officers removed more than 45 specimens from several homes across New South Wales and Victoria.
Disease incursions can rapidly move from aquaculture facilities into nearby aquatic environments where they may establish. This was shown by the 2016–17 outbreak of white spot disease in prawn farms near the Logan River, Queensland, and its subsequent detection in Moreton Bay. Environmental surveillance of various wild crustaceans will be needed until at least two years of negative results, after which movement controls on prawns, crabs and bloodworms from Moreton Bay and nearby waterways may be lifted.
5.2.6 Invasive marine pestsInvasive marine pests may be carried into Australian waters and ports by shipping, particularly in ballast water and as biofouling on ships’ hulls.
Ballast water management to international standards has been oversighted more effectively by Agriculture since the introduction of the Maritime Arrivals Reporting System in 2016, as detailed in the IGB’s Hitchhiker report (IGB 2018).
Biofouling is a significant pathway for the introduction and spread of environmental marine pests and diseases. The 2015 Senate inquiry and a 2015 review of national marine pest biosecurity recommended that the Australian Government develop regulations to reduce the biosecurity risks associated with biofouling (Agriculture 2015).
In 2018 the NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) implemented a Craft Risk Management Standard (CRMS) for vessel biofouling. The CRMS requires all vessels entering New Zealand to manage biosecurity risks associated with biofouling by: • cleaning the hull vessel less than 30 days before or within 24 hours of arrival
(long stay) • applying MPI-approved treatment and continual maintenance (short stay).
Agriculture is developing a biofouling policy for public consultation in mid 2019 and, if approved, implementation over five years. The policy will be based on IMO 2011 guidelines for the control and management of ships’ biofouling to minimise the transfer of invasive aquatic species. These guidelines are based on pathway controls (ship hull designs and ports visited) rather than species specific threats (IMO 2012).
Technological innovation does not wait for Australian Government policy to be developed. In August 2018 a Norwegian company began using underwater hull-cleaning technology in the Port of Townsville, Queensland. HullWiper uses adjustable seawater jets on a remotely operated vehicle to clean the hull and collect the filtered waste for onshore disposal. Vessels are cleaned while they are unloading cargo. Expansion of these operations into major ports of entry would greatly reduce the environmental biosecurity risk associated with biofouling.
Research to validate molecular techniques to survey ships’ ballast water and ports for priority marine pests has commenced. In mid 2017 Agriculture began monitoring key Australian ports including Brisbane, Devonport, Gladstone, Gove, Hay Point, Hobart, Melbourne and Weipa.
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Box 3 Tassal flags biosecurity questions over oil rig in Hobart, Tasmania
Tasmanian salmon aquaculture company (Tassal) raised biosecurity concerns about an oil rig that was anchored in Hobart. In 2017 the oil rig Ocean Monarch travelled from Singapore to Western Australia and onto Bass Strait. In November 2018 the oil rig was towed into the River Derwent, Hobart for maintenance and minor repairs. On 12 December 2018, following discussions from Tassal, the Tasmanian Environment Protection Authority (EPA) issued an Environmental Protection Notice to the Diamond Offshore General Company. The notice was based on concerns the activity of the oil rig may cause serious or material environmental harm or environmental nuisance.
The EPA was concerned that the vessel had an invasive marine pest, the white colonial sea squirt (Didemnum perlucidum), attached to its hull because the sea squirt was introduced into Western Australia in 2010.
The Ocean Monarch was not inspected before being allowed into Tasmanian waters and the owners of the vessel resisted requests for a hull inspection. The EPA considered its legal options in being able to undertake an inspection without the vessel owner’s approval. The Diamond Offshore company agreed to an inspection and provided a report to the EPA. The report found that the oil rig was unlikely to pose a risk to the Derwent. Questions have since been raised about the decision to allow the company to self-assess.
5.2.7 Invasive plants (weeds)Weeds are recognised to have caused enormous environmental damage in Australia. The potential for many exotic plants to become major weeds if introduced is profound. Twenty established Weeds of National Significance (WONS) were listed by Australian governments in 1999 and a further 12 added in 2012, due to their invasiveness, potential for spread and the environmental damage they caused. Limited national action is undertaken to address potential weed biosecurity risks/pathways via the horticultural and nursery industries, with the exception of pre-border weed risk assessment.
Agriculture sets conditions for seeds and live plants that are imported to be grown in Australia. These conditions protect Australia from the risk of introducing exotic weeds and diseases that could harm our environment and economy. All import conditions for seeds are detailed in Agriculture’s Biosecurity Import Conditions system (BICON).
Import conditions vary depending on the genus and species of the plant or seed, and on other factors including country of export. A person wanting to import a species that is not listed on BICON can complete and submit a New Plant Introduction form. The information provided on the form is used by Agriculture to conduct a weed risk assessment of the species, after which Agriculture may choose to develop import conditions for the new species.
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Environment maintains a Weeds in Australia website, which contains databases of plants or plant material prohibited from import into Australia. Agriculture consults this information when conducting weed risk assessments (WRAs).
As part of the WRA, if a weed species is already present in Australia but is not listed as noxious and is not under ‘official control’, it cannot be prohibited entry under Australia’s international obligations, regardless of whether it is considered a weed in other situations. This seems to contradict the basis of environmental biosecurity to ‘protect the environment and/or social amenity from the risks and negative effects of pests and diseases entering or spreading in Australia’.
5.2.8 Wildlife diseasesWildlife Health Victoria are concerned about the spread of animal diseases from domestic and feral animals to wildlife.
There is increasing evidence that many infections of introduced domestic and feral animals have spread to wildlife, are impacting environmental biosecurity and biodiversity, and have created wildlife reservoirs of infections that may spill back to domestic animals and into humans. Consideration needs to be given to preventing and managing the establishment of these diseases. These may include: sheep and cattle Johne’s disease (Mycobacterium paratuberculosis) into macropods, sheep and cattle Chlamydia pecorum into koalas, free range poultry/turkey/duck Avian Cholera (Pasteurella multocida) into waterbirds, cat toxoplasmosis into marsupials, dog and fox hydatids into marsupials, dog and fox mange Sarcoptes scabiei mites into wombats (Wildlife Health Victoria submission).
39Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 39Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Chapter 6
Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement
6.1 Australian Government border surveillance programs
Agriculture conducts several biosecurity surveillance programs focusing on its specific border and pre-border areas of authority. It also provides coordination and funding for a larger number of wider surveillance programs that are implemented in collaboration with state and territory governments and relevant industry, scientific and community groups.
6.1.1 National Border Surveillance programIn November 2016 Agriculture began a National Border Surveillance (NBS) program by sampling, recording and identifying insect and plant species around first points of entry (international airports and seaports) and approved arrangements (industry-run facilities where imported goods and conveyances are first received and unpacked). The NBS is delivered by Agriculture’s Operational Science Services group and forms part of the biosecurity continuum by managing the risk of incursions of pests and diseases on high risk pathways at or near the border. Environmental pests such as tramp ants are a key target of this surveillance.
From 2017 to 2018 the NBS detected 42 pests and diseases of environmental concern. Most of these were snails (23.8 per cent) and ants (16.6 per cent) found at approved arrangements (66 per cent) (Table 3). Victoria accounted for the most detections (35 per cent) followed by Queensland (28.6 per cent) (Figure 3).
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TABLE 3 National Border Surveillance detections of exotic environmental pests and diseases, 2017 to 2018
Date Location Common name Scientific name Site External notification
Proposed action
May 17 Darwin Ludwigia begomovirus Begomovirus sp. AA No No action
Jun 17 Melbourne Citrus canker Xanthomonas citri AA Yes Treatment
Jul 17 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum Wharf Yes Treatment
Jul 17 Darwin Begomovirus plant virus Begomovirus sp. AA Yes Investigation
Aug 17 Melbourne Tramp ant Hypoponera eduardi AA Yes Surveillance
Sep 17 Perth Giant African snail Lissachatina fulica Wharf Yes Surveillance
Aug 17 Brisbane Alluaud’s little yellow ant Plagiolepis alluaudii Port Yes No action
Nov 17 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum Port Yes Treatment
Dec 17 Melbourne Chocolate-banded snail Massylaea vermiculata AA Yes Surveillance
Jan 18 Melbourne Snail Monacha ocellata AA Yes Surveillance
Jan 18 Melbourne Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes Surveillance
Jan 18 Melbourne Snail Laeocathaica sp. AA No Surveillance
Feb 18 Perth Buckthorn potato aphid Aphis nasturtii AA Yes Surveillance
Feb 18 Brisbane Red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta AA Yes DNA test for origin
Feb 18 Brisbane Red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta AA Yes DNA test for origin
Feb 18 Brisbane Ashy gray lady beetle Olla v-nigrum Wharf Yes Surveillance
Feb 18 Melbourne Rotund disc snail Discus rotundatus AA Yes Surveillance
Mar 18 Melbourne Minute cypress scale Carulaspis minima AA No No action
Mar 18 Perth Concentric leaf spot Phyllosticta concentrica AA Yes Surveillance
Mar 18 Perth Browsing ant Lepisiota frauenfeldi RAAF Yes Surveillance
Apr 18 Melbourne European firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus AA Yes Surveillance
Apr 18 Melbourne European firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus AA Yes Surveillance
Apr 18 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum Wharf No No action
May 18 Brisbane Keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Port No No action
May18 Brisbane Monomorium tramp ant Monomorium dichroum AA Yes No action
May 18 Darwin False powderpost beetle Dinoderis papuanus Wharf Yes Surveillance
Jun 18 Brisbane Red imported fire ant Solenopsis invicta AA Yes DNA test for origin
Jun 18 Brisbane Keyhole wasp Pachodynerus nasidens Port Yes No action
Jun 18 Adelaide Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes No action
Jun 18 Melbourne European firebug Pyrrhocoris apterus AA Yes No action
Jul 18 Darwin Pygmy borer Ernocladius sp. Wharf Yes No action
Jul 18 Sydney Ptinid beetle Ozognathus cornutus AA Yes No action
Jul 18 Perth Myrmicine ant Tetramorium caldarium RAAF Yes No action
Aug 18 Melbourne Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes No action
continued ...
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41Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
FiGURE 3 Exotic environmental detections from National Border Surveillance activities, 2017 to 2018
0
2
4
6
8
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SANTNSWWAQldVic.
6.1.2 Northern Australia Quarantine StrategyThe Torres Strait is on a major international shipping route between Northern Australia and Asia. Pathways that could bring in pests or disease include itinerant yachts, dinghies, onshore winds and tides (including major storms or cyclones), migrating birds and 27,000 human movements, some with animals, between the Torres Strait Islands, Papua New Guinea and northern Queensland every year.
In 1989 the Australian Government established the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS). NAQS provides an early warning system for exotic pest, weed and disease detections across Northern Australia and its near neighbours. The program initially received funding for two years’ operation from the Queensland, Western Australian and Northern Territory governments until it became an Australian Government responsibility in 2000.
TABLE 3 National Border Surveillance detections of exotic environmental pests and diseases, 2017 to 2018
Date Location Common name Scientific name Site External notification
Proposed action
Aug 18 Adelaide Snail Caracollina lenticulata AA Yes Surveillance
Sep 18 Adelaide Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes Surveillance
Sep 18 Sydney Snail Xerotricha conspurcata Other Yes Surveillance
Oct 18 Brisbane Powdery mildew of sowthistle
Golovinomyces sonchicola AA Yes Surveillance
Oct 18 Sydney Snail Xerotricha conspurcata AA Yes Surveillance
Oct 18 Sydney Grove snail Cepaea nemoralis Wharf Yes Treatment
Nov 18 Brisbane Anthracnose of Liriope Colletotrichum liriopes AA Yes No action
Nov 18 Melbourne Seed-bearing soursob Oxalis pes caprae AA Yes SurveillanceAA Approved arrangements. RAAF Royal Australian Air Force.
continued
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The role of NAQS is to: • manage the biosecurity aspects of border movements through the Torres Strait • identify and evaluate the unique biosecurity risks facing Northern Australia • develop and implement measures for early detection of targeted pests and diseases • contribute to collaborative surveillance and capacity building in
neighbouring countries.
NAQS covers almost 10,000 km of coastline from Broome in Western Australia to Cairns in Queensland, and includes the Torres Strait Islands. The distance from Saibai Island, Torres Strait to Papua New Guinea is only 3.6 km. In 2018 NAQS had 117 staff, including specialist scientists, community liaison officers, rangers and project officers. Twenty-nine per cent of NAQS staff were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
NAQS targets more than 100 insect species, 50 plant diseases and 40 weed species and conducts an average of 18 plant early detection surveys/activities each year. It also monitors animal health through sampling sentinel cattle and pig herds for a range of animal diseases and monitoring of biting midge vectors for arboviruses. NAQS annually diagnoses 2,500 animal samples, 500 plant pathology samples, 400 botany samples, thousands of observational weed/host records and 2,500 trap insect trap clearances (more than 500,000 specimens). NAQS detects and notifies authorities about five nationally significant pests, diseases or weeds each year.
The Senate Environmental Biosecurity Inquiry Committee recommended that Agriculture review and update NAQS by mid 2016 and that this review examine the adequacy of resources available to implement the strategy and suggest changes to improve environmental biosecurity outcomes under the strategy. The Australian Government responded that it had committed more than $60 million to surveillance practice and technologies in Northern Australia and an additional $12.4 million in funding for Indigenous Ranger groups between 2015–16 and 2018–19.
NAQS considers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships critical for successful outcomes. Under the Indigenous Ranger Program, Agriculture has contracted 68 Indigenous Ranger groups across northern Australia to undertake fee-for-service biosecurity monitoring activities on Country, and invested more than $1.8 million in training and equipment to build on the existing capability of rangers. More than 100 rangers have been provided emergency response training and each of the ranger groups are invited to represent their community at the annual Biosecurity Ranger Forum. Agriculture also collaborated with the Queensland Government to pilot the Biosecurity Indigenous Traineeship, with four trainees completing the 18-month traineeship in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area. Three of the trainees have subsequently obtained biosecurity related employment.
In 2018 a review of the Indigenous Ranger Program found that the program was contributing to safeguarding Australia’s animal and plant health, but that improvements could be made in its next phase. Additionally, the program has provided direct and indirect benefits to communities by unlocking significant and new employment opportunities.
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Agriculture is also a key partner developing the Torres Strait–Northern Peninsula Area Biosecurity Strategy with a range of local stakeholders. The strategy was developed in recognition of the need to protect the unique environment of the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area of Cape York from biosecurity risks. Agriculture has also been a key partner in collaborating to improve telecommunication in the area, resulting in increased 4G coverage and upgraded inter-island links. The investment has resulted in improved communications between biosecurity officers in the Torres Strait and better management of biosecurity risks. It has provided better outcomes in the provision of services such as health, education and economic development, as well as in the social wellbeing of the residents through being more connected to each other.
Agriculture has also continued to invest in a range of tools, data collection initiatives and collaborative measures supporting improved biosecurity surveillance and regulation approaches across the Torres Strait. This work has streamlined the work of biosecurity officers working across the Torres Strait and Indigenous Rangers undertaking biosecurity activities on a fee-for-service basis across the north.
This review commends Agriculture’s effort in developing the Indigenous Ranger Program and considers it should work with Top End governments to expand biosecurity surveillance and compliance activities to facilitate early detection and management of biosecurity threats.
Recommendation 6
The department should ensure the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy program, and other surveillance programs, are coordinated with state and territory biosecurity surveillance activities and environmental biosecurity projects (as appropriate) to encourage collaborative resourcing and avoid possible duplication.
Department’s response: The department is currently implementing several initiatives that will improve the national surveillance system. These include better coordination of departmental, state and territory and industry biosecurity activities, and capacity building in near neighbour countries to ensure Australia’s biosecurity risk is managed effectively and collaboratively. Surveillance activities across Australia are overseen by the National Biosecurity Committee and its subcommittees, which include input by representatives from all jurisdictions, industry and non-government organisations. The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will work with the Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy (NAQS) program, Biosecurity Plant Division, Biosecurity Animal Division and the states and territories to ensure that environmental biosecurity priorities are included in both surveillance activities and projects.
The department supported the establishment of Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) in 2013 (from the former Australian Wildlife Health Network) to facilitate coordination and collaboration of wildlife health surveillance and other activities across different levels of government and with non-government organisations and community groups. The organisation is now co-funded by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments and chaired by the inaugural Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer. The department (including NAQS) participates in WHA programs, as do the states and territories, zoos, wildlife hospitals, universities and private veterinary clinics. Other environmental biosecurity surveillance activities are coordinated through the Animal Health Committee and Animal Health Australia.
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6.2 Wider post-border research, development and extension
The natural environment is complex. Submissions to this review have suggested some knowledge gaps that could be filled with research and communication. For example, the Australian Network for Plant Conservation believe improving communication across scientific expertise fields relating to invasive species such as species-level and ecosystem-level researchers could provide major benefits for the environmental biosecurity effort. These lie outside the current consultative processes of the biosecurity apparatus and are beyond reach for the current level of engagement.
Wildlife Health Australia also believes that improving education and knowledge of diseases with wildlife as part of their ecology that may impact on Australia’s environment and biosecurity will help to prepare for and respond to these risks.
Environment noted that surveillance for new invasive species may be conducted by Parks Australia staff as part of ongoing reserve management practices, such as myrtle rust surveillance at Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay.
Formal arrangements with zoos, universities and botanical gardens should be developed to improve the environmental biosecurity knowledge gaps associated with native animals, including birds, invertebrates and reptiles.
Funding has emerged as a key issue for many environmental biosecurity issues needing further research and innovative approaches.
Agriculture and Environment have not aligned processes for allocating funding under their natural resource management (NRM) programs. The Grant Connect website provides information on all federal grants but it does not include NRM as a category, so it is difficult to find collated information on existing grants. This would be a desirable improvement to the system.
Stocktake of general surveillanceIn late 2018 the ABARES Social Sciences team (part of Agriculture) initiated a stocktake of biosecurity general surveillance programs in primary production and natural resource management across Australia and New Zealand. General surveillance is defined as ‘all pests, weeds and/or diseases surveillance activities that have elements of opportunism or flexibility’ and includes passive surveillance (‘fortuitous finds’), citizen science and industry or community-based surveillance initiatives. General surveillance initiatives typically involve considerable contributions from industry, private businesses, community groups or the general public.
The stocktake formed part of an ABARES project seeking to develop a set of guidelines for designing sustainable and effective general surveillance programs, to understand the state of play of general surveillance in Australia and New Zealand and to facilitate cross-program learning.
Similarly to the project for prioritising national environmental pests and diseases, this stocktake should be conducted in a transparent and dynamic manner.
In 2018 the Agriculture Senior Officials Committee agreed to a protocol for information sharing and a national trusted network to allow real-time sharing of sensitive interception data and intelligence. Agriculture is coordinating the development of a national data platform and data analytics, which will support data sharing. An interim data platform has been developed to enable data sharing.
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Information about illegal imports such as exotic wildlife seizures could be shared through this platform. However, the bulk of environmental biosecurity pests are more likely to enter inadvertently. Maximum transparency and timely data sharing between governments and with community stakeholders is preferable to secrecy in dealing with these risks.
6.2.1 Invasive Species CouncilThe Invasive Species Council (ISC) was formed in 2002 to advocate for stronger laws, policies and programs to keep Australian biodiversity safe from weeds, feral animals, exotic pathogens and other invaders.
In January 2017 the ISC and Monash University School of Biological Sciences, with support from the Ian Potter Foundation, began an environmental biosecurity risks and pathways project. The two-and-a-half-year project is to develop a national priority list of potential insect and plant disease invaders that could harm the natural environment and identify their likely pathways of arrival and impacts.
The project will establish a best practice method for identifying priorities that can be applied to other groups of organisms and create an open-source database that will allow for regular updates. The first stage of the project will address insects. The work will extend to plant pathogens pending the result of additional grant applications. ISC work is funded by donations from supporters and philanthropic organisations.
6.2.2 Centre for Invasive Species SolutionsThe Centre for Invasive Species Solutions (CISS) succeeded the Cooperative Research Centres for Invasive Animals and Australian Weeds Management. CISS was funded for five years from 2017 to 2022 to develop research, development and extension (RD&E) projects to enhance invasive species management strategies among landholders and land managers. In 2017–18, the first year of CISS operation, key achievements were: • agreement to portfolio research project funding by the Member/Industry Review
Panel in September 2017, with total committed funds amounting to $11.4 million • cash investment by Agriculture of $3,350,000 in 2017–18, leveraging an additional
$2,757,000 in other contributions • the proportional investment of other contributors set to significantly increase
in 2018–19 • refinement of all 21 portfolio projects to point of execution or to final draft stage • mobilisation of more than 100 RD&E specialists across the project portfolio to
strengthen collaboration within and between projects • preparation and release of a public consultation draft of a 10-year Investment Plan
for Weeds RD&E, and a national workshop in May 2018 • development of a draft National Incursion Management Framework for
Invasive Species • Australia’s largest single collaboration of researchers working on deer projects
across agricultural and environmental landscapes • successful oversight leading to the development and delivery of a new Certificate III
Rural and Environmental Pest Management course • high PestSmart website usage, which received 449,527 page views from
171,514 users. Associated PestSmart social media pages have more than 5,900 followers and posts reached an estimated 2.2 million followers.
Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement
46 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
In 2018 the EIC tasked CISS with coordinating development of the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy 2016–20. Funding to support CISS in this important role over the next two years was agreed in 2018. However, by February 2019 funding had still not been allocated for the implementation phase expected from July 2019.
In March 2019 CISS received an Australian Government biosecurity award for its role in coordinating the release, monitoring and evaluation of a rabbit biocontrol agent. RHDV1 K5, a Korean strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus, was released across 323 community sites within Australia in March 2017.
6.2.3 Plant Health AustraliaPlant Health Australia (PHA) considers that environmental biosecurity is not entirely distinct from agricultural biosecurity. There is a significant overlap in pests that affect plants grown for agricultural purposes, those found in the natural environment and those for social amenity in urban spaces.
In their submission, PHA highlighted several key organisations that have the focus, drive and capacity to work on environmental biosecurity, such as PHA, research and development corporations, universities and local governments.
Nationally coordinated surveillance programs, supported by an effective diagnostic network, are needed to maximise the effectiveness and efficiency of detection of exotic pests. For example: • the International Plant Sentinel Network facilitates collaboration around the world,
linking botanic gardens and arboreta, national plant protection organisations and plant scientists
• the National Forest Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy, established by PHA, mitigates the risk of exotic forest pests establishing in Australia, and provides evidence to support claims of area freedom.
The Plant Biosecurity Research Initiative is a partnership between PHA, seven plant research and development corporations and Agriculture. It was established to minimise damaging consequences of established and exotic pests, diseases and weeds that affect Australian plant industries, the community and the environment. It has established a set of priorities that will guide the partners in funding biosecurity RD&E.
6.2.4 Australian Plant Biosecurity Science FoundationThe Australian Plant Biosecurity Science Foundation (APBSF) was established in July 2018 as a not-for-profit charity to follow the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (CRC). Its intent is to support plant biosecurity research, development, extension and capacity building. APBSF is particularly focused on cross-sectoral issues not well covered by other funding mechanisms, such as environmental plant biosecurity.
Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement
47Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
6.2.5 Wildlife Health AustraliaWildlife Health Australia (WHA) is the coordinating body for wildlife health in Australia. It undertakes research of, investigates and monitors wildlife diseases in Australia. WHA has a strong One Health focus with activities that link the environment, animal health and public health sectors. It coordinates a network including state/territory agriculture and environment departments, zoos, university veterinary schools and science departments, and sentinel veterinary practices. Additionally, universities have major capacity and expertise to contribute to surveillance and early disease detection and to help develop solutions for managing wildlife diseases.
Wildlife biosecurity information and response sources differ from production sources and need separate support. Current frameworks exist that can help but there is a gap in support for surveillance and preparedness for exotic wildlife diseases that could impact on environment and social amenity, rather than market access.
The value of obtaining and using overseas intelligence to assist in identifying risks and gaps should be recognised. Agriculture has encouraged WHA to produce regular digests and enter a new role with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Working Group on Wildlife.
In its submission, WHA commended the role of Agriculture in setting up and maintaining the biosecurity system. However, it noted that biosecurity animal health focuses primarily on agriculturally significant diseases and needs to bring environment into the system, by: • developing a system to support wildlife diseases and biodiversity/social
amenity impacts • contingency planning for potential high risk diseases with wildlife as a part of
their ecology • furthering education and knowledge of diseases with wildlife as part of their
ecology to prepare for and respond to these risks.
WHA questioned whether connections between the Agriculture and Environment departments are sufficient to take advantage of the work that Agriculture has led. WHA’s view is that the good work of Agriculture can only be fully realised in the wildlife space if Environment properly identifies and funds priority work. WHA also believes that the CEBO, Agriculture and members of the NBC and EIC need significantly greater levels of resourcing to address the increasing risks.
Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement
48 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
6.3 Environmental stakeholder and community engagement
6.3.1 Environmental biosecurity roundtableIn October 2016 Agriculture, in collaboration with Environment, established an environmental biosecurity roundtable to discuss environmental biosecurity issues with key stakeholders, identify potential solutions to shape future actions and share information on initiatives. This is part of a program of biosecurity roundtables and a National Biosecurity Forum.
Two roundtables were held in 2018, the first in Canberra on 3 May (attended by 68 people) and the second in Brisbane on 9 October (attended by 72 people). The forums provided updates of activities from government departments and industry covering issues such as the National Biosecurity Statement, biosecurity information sources, introductions to the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer and Threatened Species Commissioner, and future stakeholder engagement.
A survey taken at the Canberra roundtable highlighted some issues: • the need for outcomes-focused engagement opportunities for environmental
biosecurity stakeholders and improving accessibility (for example, through webinars or live streaming)
• the importance of ongoing funding and research into social and behavioural economics to better target biosecurity promotion and compliance activities
• the need to better engage Indigenous stakeholders in environmental biosecurity.
The establishment of the environmental roundtable has been well received by stakeholders to this review, with hopes for better engagement with the environmental sector.
The establishment of environmental round tables, in which PHA has participated, that provide an opportunity for stakeholders such as industries and local communities to come together to discuss environmental biosecurity matters and share ideas (Plant Health Australia submission).
We strongly support regional and national environmental biosecurity roundtable series launched in 2016, and we note the steady growth in attendance at these events…and acknowledge that in many respects the environment sector owes a great debt to Agriculture technical staff. The ANPC strongly support the continuance of these forums, alongside more formal strengthening of interchange between DAWR and the environment sector (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).
There needs to be a greater level of awareness, engagement, and resource allocation from and within the environment agencies in all jurisdictions, and the Natural resource management sector at large, than has been the case to date. Fostering the transfer of knowledge and expertise from the agricultural sector to the environmental sector is critical (Australian Network for Plant Conservation submission).
The department should, through the roundtable process, develop a policy on engaging the environmental sector in more depth in biosecurity processes and develop options for collaboration (Invasive Species Council, pers. comm., 12 July 2018).
Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement
49Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
6.3.2 Raising community awareness and engagementRaising awareness and engaging the local community on specific environmental biosecurity issues across Australia can be difficult. Action is needed at many levels and should be sustained or targeted depending on the issue.
In 2018 Agriculture created a ‘Biosecurity matters’ community website to increase community awareness of biosecurity. It provided information on how to be ‘biosecurity aware’ of your responsibilities while engaging in activities such as recreational fishing, bushwalking, online shopping and gardening. The webpage also introduces a character called Jeff, who, through some short animated videos, demonstrated how his careless biosecurity actions can have detrimental impacts on the environment.
While the ‘Biosecurity Matters’ web page is a good start in raising awareness of biosecurity issues amongst the broader community, it unfortunately targets individuals that are already aware of biosecurity issues and are searching for further information. A much more sustained, whole of community approach is needed nationally, to wake the Australian community up to their role in monitoring and reporting incursions of unwanted pests, diseases and weeds. There needs to be effective measurement of community understanding on biosecurity, captured on a regular basis (National Farmers’ Federation submission).
The National Farmers’ Federation also believe that community education targeted to identifying and reporting regionally specific weeds and pests would assist in raising awareness in communities of biosecurity issues in their area. For example, agricultural field days and local community shows could be used to showcase pests, weeds and diseases and provide information if incursions are detected.
Landcare is one community-based approach that has played a major role in raising awareness, influencing farming and land management practices and delivering environmental outcomes across Australia. Local group involvement has been the catalyst for voluntary community engagement, understanding and action in the development and adoption of sustainable land management practices and the acknowledgement of our shared responsibility for conserving biodiversity.
The environmental focus of the Landcare approach evolved to incorporate a strong social aspect. Communities have understood the benefits of joint action to analyse and solve local problems, including many that are beyond the capacity of individuals to solve. An environmental biosecurity criterion could be included in a wide range of Landcare grants for industry and community groups to help strengthen the link between Landcare and biosecurity.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage suggested that the Australian Government could also support or participate in projects that directly address nationally significant environmental biosecurity issues. For example, ‘Plant Sure’ is a project working with the horticultural industry to reduce or remove the use of ornamental plants that pose an environmental weed risk.
Surveillance and wider scientific and community engagement
50 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Wildlife Health Victoria believes that during a disease emergency involving wildlife populations, stakeholders are critical in providing information about the species affected, where, when, what clinical signs, mortality rate, and access to and provision of dead wildlife for diagnosis and sampling.
Wildlife Health Australia considers it vital that Australia can show that it is free of exotic diseases and disease agents that can affect or be carried by wildlife and feral animals that can jeopardise our trade and market access. Providing further emphasis and integration of the environment into arrangements as a complementary activity is needed. This could be improved with the establishment of wildlife disease surveillance networks.
6.3.3 Local environmental biosecurity plansAgricultural agencies work with many farm industry bodies to develop on-farm biosecurity plans aimed at keeping farms safe from pests and diseases. Plans or community biosecurity guidelines can be developed for emerging environmental diseases, as shown by the guidelines for prevention of white nose syndrome in bats (Box 2).
Similar plans or guidelines could be developed for other individual sectors of the environment and community. Plans could address such issues as cleaning of camping equipment and transport when moving between national parks and the possible introduction of aquatic diseases by improper disposal of bait. The plans could give greater recourse to citizen science approaches and better resourcing and use of community groups.
Recommendation 7
The department should work with relevant stakeholders to contribute to the development of environmental biosecurity plans targeting specific pests or diseases aimed at environmental sectors of concern, and include the community as much as possible.
Department’s response: A priority for the Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund in 2018–19 and beyond is the development of environmental biosecurity plans for priority species and ecological communities. Work is currently underway to revise a biosecurity plan for acacia species and to develop a plan for mangroves and associated communities. The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will also work with stakeholders to help guide the direction and scope of future plans, ensuring that consultation is a key consideration in their development.
51Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 51Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Conclusion
Since the Senate inquiry handed down its report in 2015 Australian Government has made considerable progress in tackling the complex task of delivering better environmental biosecurity risk management.
The Senate inquiry proposed that the Australian Government Environment department, rather than Agriculture, become the lead agency for environmental biosecurity, with commensurate responsibilities and resourcing. However, the Biosecurity Act 2015 clearly ascribed the bulk of responsibilities and legal powers to Agriculture. Several specific areas were delegated to Environment, which also has biosecurity-related responsibilities under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Formalisation of the roles and responsibilities of the two departments through an MoU should improve understanding and acceptance of the interdependence of the two agencies in delivering environmental biosecurity.
Similarly, in response to the IGAB and the NEBRA reviews, the National Biosecurity Committee has taken steps to provide a greater focus on environmental biosecurity, adapting the structures and processes used for animal and plant biosecurity management to deliver an all-hazards approach with special features suited to particular environmental issues. It is hoped that this can provide a model for stronger cooperation on biosecurity between agricultural and environmental agencies at the state and territory level in different jurisdictions.
Stakeholder communication and engagement on environmental biosecurity is challenging. Australia has a huge variety of native animals, plants and ecosystems, all of which have different organisations and communities involved with them, and an even greater complexity of environmental biosecurity threats which beset them. Environmental biosecurity roundtables and inclusive threat prioritisation processes can contribute enormously to a shared community understanding of priority targets and ways to combat them.
At a broader level, ongoing engagement with the wider national and international scientific research community is needed, to find more innovative ways to identify and deal with environmental biosecurity threats.
The Australian Government, through both Agriculture and Environment, will need to play an ever-increasing part in the national and international efforts to safeguard our unique environment as biosecurity threats increase.
52 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia52 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Appendix A
Agency response
56 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia56 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Appendix B
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
In May 2015 the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee released a report on Environmental biosecurity. In June 2017 the Australian Government responded to recommendations in the report and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) initiated actions in response.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
57Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
1:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at, o
nce
esta
blis
hed,
the
Insp
ecto
r-G
ener
al o
f Bi
osec
urity
con
duct
a s
yste
mat
ic re
view
of
how
effe
ctiv
ely
high
-ris
k en
viro
nmen
tal
bios
ecur
ity c
once
rns
are
addr
esse
d w
ithin
the
broa
der b
iose
curi
ty s
yste
m,
with
a p
artic
ular
focu
s on
iden
tifyi
ng
gaps
in p
athw
ay a
nd r
isk
anal
yses
and
on
impr
ovin
g in
form
atio
n ga
ther
ing
and
shar
ing
betw
een
juris
dict
ions
.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
The
Insp
ecto
r-G
ener
al o
f Bio
secu
rity
may
revi
ew th
e pe
rfor
man
ce o
f fun
ctio
ns, o
r exe
rcis
e of
pow
ers,
by
bios
ecur
ity
offici
als
unde
r one
or m
ore
prov
isio
ns o
f the
Bio
secu
rity
Act 2
015.
As
such
, the
Insp
ecto
r-G
ener
al o
f Bio
secu
rity
may
un
dert
ake
revi
ews
of e
nviro
nmen
tal b
iose
curi
ty u
nder
thei
r pow
ers
pres
crib
ed u
nder
the
Act
. The
Dep
artm
ent o
f A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es w
ill b
ring
the
com
mitt
ee’s
reco
mm
enda
tion
to th
e at
tent
ion
of th
e In
spec
tor-
Gen
eral
.
Info
rmed
the
Insp
ecto
r-G
ener
al o
f Bio
secu
rity
.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
2:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts
to re
vise
the
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
enta
l Bi
osec
urity
Res
pons
e A
gree
men
t suc
h th
at
disa
gree
men
t by
a si
ngle
par
ty n
eed
not
prev
ent a
resp
onse
und
er th
e ag
reem
ent
from
goi
ng a
head
.
Not
sup
port
ed
Cons
ensu
s de
cisi
on-m
akin
g in
em
erge
ncy
resp
onse
s re
mai
ns a
cor
e te
net u
nder
pinn
ing
the
part
ners
hip
appr
oach
to
deci
sion
-mak
ing
prom
oted
by
the
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
enta
l Bio
secu
rity
Res
pons
e A
gree
men
t (N
EBR
A),
othe
r em
erge
ncy
resp
onse
dee
ds a
nd th
e IG
AB
. Whi
le u
nder
the
curr
ent c
onse
nsus
app
roac
h to
the
NEB
RA
ther
e is
a p
ossi
bilit
y th
at a
si
ngle
par
ty c
ould
vot
e do
wn
a re
spon
se, t
he N
EBR
A d
oes
not p
reve
nt th
e re
mai
ning
sup
port
ing
part
ies
from
reac
hing
ag
reem
ent o
n a
cost
-sha
red
erad
icat
ion
resp
onse
.
The
Aus
tral
ian,
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts re
cent
ly c
omm
issi
oned
the
first
five
-yea
rly re
view
of t
he N
EBR
A, w
hich
is
bei
ng u
nder
take
n by
an
exte
rnal
third
par
ty (K
PMG
). Th
e N
BC w
ill c
onsi
der a
ny re
com
men
datio
ns fo
r im
prov
emen
t fo
llow
ing
the
final
isat
ion
of th
e re
port
in th
e se
cond
hal
f of 2
017
.
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s w
orki
ng w
ith o
ther
N
EBR
A s
igna
torie
s to
resp
ond
to th
e re
view
th
roug
h th
e N
BC.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
3:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
to
incl
ude
in th
e N
atio
nal E
nviro
nmen
tal
Bios
ecur
ity R
espo
nse
Agr
eem
ent a
n ex
plic
it pr
ecau
tiona
ry p
rinci
ple
whi
ch s
tate
s th
at a
la
ck o
f ful
l sci
entifi
c or
tech
nica
l cer
tain
ty
rega
rdin
g th
e fe
asib
ility
of e
radi
catio
n m
ust
be w
eigh
ed a
gain
st p
oten
tial b
iose
curi
ty
risks
whe
n de
term
inin
g w
heth
er to
mou
nt
a re
spon
se.
Not
sup
port
ed
The
purp
ose
of th
e N
EBR
A is
to e
stab
lish
natio
nal a
rran
gem
ents
for r
espo
nses
to n
atio
nally
sig
nific
ant b
iose
curi
ty
inci
dent
s w
here
ther
e ar
e pr
edom
inan
tly p
ublic
ben
efits
. Alth
ough
the
NEB
RA
doe
s no
t exp
licitl
y in
corp
orat
e th
e pr
ecau
tiona
ry p
rinci
ple,
it in
clud
es a
ppro
pria
te m
echa
nism
s to
take
into
acc
ount
sci
entifi
c or
tech
nica
l unc
erta
inty
. Th
e N
atio
nal B
iose
curi
ty M
anag
emen
t Con
sulta
tive
Com
mitt
ee (N
BMCC
) mus
t ass
ess
the
pest
or d
isea
se b
ased
on
its n
atio
nal s
igni
fican
ce; w
heth
er it
is ‘l
ikel
y’ to
be
erad
icab
le a
nd w
heth
er it
is c
ost b
enefi
cial
to m
ount
a n
atio
nal
bios
ecur
ity in
cide
nt re
spon
se.
This
ass
essm
ent c
onsi
ders
the
pote
ntia
l eco
nom
ic, e
nviro
nmen
tal a
nd s
ocia
l am
enity
impa
cts,
dra
win
g on
info
rmat
ion
from
a v
arie
ty o
f sou
rces
incl
udin
g pe
er-r
evie
wed
sci
entifi
c pa
pers
, per
sona
l com
mun
icat
ions
from
peo
ple
with
ex
perie
nce
with
the
spec
ies
unde
r ass
essm
ent a
nd a
necd
otal
dat
a fr
om n
on-e
xper
ts. I
nfor
mat
ion
sour
ces
used
for
the
asse
ssm
ent a
re c
onsi
dere
d ac
cord
ing
to a
det
erm
ined
leve
l of c
onfid
ence
(for
exa
mpl
e, in
form
atio
n fr
om g
ener
al
refe
renc
e bo
oks
is g
iven
a m
ediu
m c
onfid
ence
rat
ing)
.
If th
ere
is a
lack
of s
cien
tific
or te
chni
cal c
erta
inty
abo
ut a
dis
ease
or p
est,
an a
sses
smen
t bas
ed o
n th
e be
st a
vaila
ble
evid
ence
is p
rese
nted
for t
he N
atio
nal B
iose
curi
ty M
anag
emen
t Gro
up (N
BMG
) to
cons
ider
.
The
NEB
RA
gui
delin
es fo
r ris
k as
sess
men
t (Sc
hedu
le 2
of t
he N
EBR
A) p
rovi
de a
bal
ance
bet
wee
n al
low
ing
for
unce
rtai
nty
in te
chni
cal d
ata
and
still
mee
ting
the
requ
irem
ents
for t
he re
spon
se to
be
tech
nica
lly fe
asib
le a
nd c
ost
bene
ficia
l to
be m
ount
ed. T
his
appr
oach
is c
onsi
sten
t with
the
Emer
genc
y A
nim
al D
isea
se R
espo
nse
Agr
eem
ent
(EA
DR
A) a
nd th
e Em
erge
ncy
Plan
t Pes
t Res
pons
e D
eed
(EPP
RD
).
The
Aus
tral
ian,
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts re
cent
ly c
omm
issi
oned
the
first
five
-yea
rly re
view
of t
he N
EBR
A, w
hich
is
bei
ng u
nder
take
n by
an
exte
rnal
third
par
ty (K
PMG
). Th
e N
BC w
ill c
onsi
der a
ny re
com
men
datio
ns fo
r im
prov
emen
t fo
llow
ing
the
final
isat
ion
of th
e re
port
in th
e se
cond
hal
f of 2
017
.
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s w
orki
ng w
ith o
ther
N
EBR
A s
igna
torie
s to
resp
ond
to th
e re
view
th
roug
h th
e N
BC.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
58 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
4:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
to d
evel
op
a na
tiona
lly c
onsi
sten
t met
hodo
logy
for
inco
rpor
atin
g en
viro
nmen
tal i
mpa
cts
into
cos
t-be
nefit
ana
lyse
s un
der t
he
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
enta
l Bio
secu
rity
Re
spon
se A
gree
men
t.
Supp
orte
d
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent w
ill w
ork
thro
ugh
the
NBC
, whi
ch c
onsi
sts
of re
pres
enta
tives
from
eac
h st
ate
and
terr
itory
, to
con
side
r a n
atio
nally
con
sist
ent m
etho
dolo
gy fo
r inc
orpo
ratin
g en
viro
nmen
tal i
mpa
cts
into
cos
t-be
nefit
ana
lyse
s as
pa
rt o
f its
revi
ew o
f the
NEB
RA
.
The
Aus
tral
ian,
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts re
cent
ly c
omm
issi
oned
the
first
five
-yea
rly re
view
of t
he N
EBR
A, w
hich
is
bei
ng u
nder
take
n by
an
exte
rnal
third
par
ty (K
PMG
). Th
e N
BC w
ill c
onsi
der a
ny re
com
men
datio
ns fo
r im
prov
emen
t fo
llow
ing
the
final
isat
ion
of th
e re
port
in th
e se
cond
hal
f of 2
017
.
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s w
orki
ng w
ith o
ther
N
EBR
A s
igna
torie
s to
resp
ond
to th
e re
view
th
roug
h th
e N
BC.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
5:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
si
gnat
orie
s to
the
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
enta
l Bi
osec
urity
Res
pons
e A
gree
men
t to
incl
ude
in th
at a
gree
men
t a tr
ansi
tion
to
man
agem
ent f
ram
ewor
k to
cla
rify
the
resp
onsi
bilit
ies
of th
e pa
rtie
s fo
r ong
oing
m
anag
emen
t act
iviti
es if
era
dica
tion
is
deem
ed to
be
no lo
nger
feas
ible
.
Supp
orte
d
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent r
ecog
nise
s th
e im
port
ance
of t
rans
ition
to m
anag
emen
t fra
mew
orks
and
how
they
ass
ist
in c
lari
fyin
g pa
rtie
s’ re
spon
sibi
litie
s fo
r ong
oing
man
agem
ent a
ctiv
ities
whe
n er
adic
atio
n is
dee
med
to b
e no
long
er
feas
ible
. For
exa
mpl
e, tr
ansi
tion
to m
anag
emen
t pro
gram
s w
ere
pilo
ted
for m
yrtle
rus
t, br
anch
ed b
room
rape
and
Asi
an
hone
y be
es a
fter
the
erad
icat
ion
of e
ach
was
con
clud
ed to
be
no lo
nger
tech
nica
lly fe
asib
le. T
hese
pilo
t pro
gram
s pr
ovid
ed fu
ndin
g fo
r act
iviti
es th
at a
llow
ed in
dust
ry a
nd/o
r the
com
mun
ity to
ada
pt to
livi
ng w
ith th
e pa
rtic
ular
pes
t or
dise
ase
and
to s
et u
p sy
stem
s fo
r man
agem
ent w
ithin
affe
cted
juris
dict
ions
.
Tran
sitio
n to
man
agem
ent a
rran
gem
ents
wer
e re
cent
ly in
clud
ed in
the
EPPR
D. U
nder
the
EPPR
D, t
rans
ition
to
man
agem
ent p
rogr
ams
can
only
be
cons
ider
ed if
an
incu
rsio
n is
no
long
er te
chni
cally
feas
ible
or c
ost b
enefi
cial
to
era
dica
te. S
igna
torie
s to
the
EAD
RA
and
the
NEB
RA
hav
e ag
reed
to e
xplo
re o
ptio
ns to
inco
rpor
ate
tran
sitio
n to
m
anag
emen
t fra
mew
orks
into
thos
e ag
reem
ents
.
The
Aus
tral
ian,
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts re
cent
ly c
omm
issi
oned
the
first
five
-yea
rly re
view
of t
he N
EBR
A, w
hich
is
bei
ng u
nder
take
n by
an
exte
rnal
third
par
ty (K
PMG
). Th
e N
BC w
ill c
onsi
der a
ny re
com
men
datio
ns fo
r im
prov
emen
t fo
llow
ing
the
final
isat
ion
of th
e re
port
in th
e se
cond
hal
f of 2
017
.
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s w
orki
ng w
ith o
ther
N
EBR
A s
igna
torie
s to
resp
ond
to th
e re
view
th
roug
h th
e N
BC.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
6:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t rev
iew
ta
rget
s co
ntai
ned
in A
ustr
alia
's B
iodi
vers
ity
Cons
erva
tion
Stra
tegy
20
10–2
030
and
de
velo
p m
easu
rem
ent m
etho
dolo
gies
to
ensu
re th
at A
ustr
alia
's p
rogr
ess
can
be
mea
ning
fully
ass
esse
d.
Supp
orte
d
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y ha
s un
dert
aken
a re
view
of t
he fi
rst fi
ve y
ears
of A
ustr
alia
’s B
iodi
vers
ity
Cons
erva
tion
Stra
tegy
20
10–2
030
in c
onju
nctio
n w
ith a
ll st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
and
the
Aus
tral
ian
Loca
l G
over
nmen
t Ass
ocia
tion.
The
revi
ew a
sses
sed
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
stra
tegy
, inc
ludi
ng th
e na
tiona
l tar
gets
. It a
lso
cons
ider
ed o
ppor
tuni
ties
to im
prov
e th
e st
rate
gy, i
nclu
ding
the
robu
stne
ss a
nd d
urab
ility
of o
bjec
tives
, res
pons
ibili
ty a
nd a
ccou
ntab
ility
fo
r the
del
iver
y of
out
com
es, m
onito
ring
and
repo
rtin
g sy
stem
s, a
nd a
lignm
ent w
ith o
ther
nat
iona
l and
in
tern
atio
nal o
blig
atio
ns.
The
revi
ew w
as p
rese
nted
for c
onsi
dera
tion
at th
e M
eetin
g of
Env
ironm
ent M
inis
ters
on
25 N
ovem
ber 2
016
. It f
ound
th
ere
wer
e op
port
uniti
es to
bui
ld o
n go
od o
utco
mes
ach
ieve
d so
far i
nclu
ding
by
enha
ncin
g pa
rtne
rshi
ps to
take
pr
actic
al a
nd fo
cuse
d ac
tion
to im
plem
ent t
he s
trat
egy.
As
the
stra
tegy
sup
port
s A
ustr
alia
’s im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e U
nite
d N
atio
ns C
onve
ntio
n on
Bio
logi
cal D
iver
sity
, Min
iste
rs
agre
ed th
at it
sho
uld
be u
pdat
ed to
mee
t cur
rent
and
em
ergi
ng c
halle
nges
.
Not
app
licab
le
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
59Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
7:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e A
ustr
alia
n N
atio
nal A
udit
Offi
ce c
ondu
ct a
pe
rfor
man
ce a
udit
of th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he
Envi
ronm
ent's
impl
emen
tatio
n of
Aus
tral
ia's
Bi
odiv
ersi
ty C
onse
rvat
ion
Stra
tegy
20
10–2
030
with
a p
artic
ular
focu
s on
how
pr
ogre
ss to
war
ds ta
rget
s is
mea
sure
d.
Not
ed
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y w
ill b
ring
the
com
mitt
ee’s
reco
mm
enda
tion
to th
e at
tent
ion
of th
e A
ustr
alia
n N
atio
nal A
udit
Offi
ce. I
t sho
uld
be n
oted
that
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
Biod
iver
sity
Con
serv
atio
n St
rate
gy is
the
resp
onsi
bilit
y of
all
juris
dict
ions
.
Not
app
licab
le
Rec
omm
enda
tion
8:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t rev
iew
pr
oces
ses
for a
lloca
ting
fund
ing
unde
r the
ir na
tura
l res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t pro
gram
s w
ith a
vie
w to
min
imis
ing
dela
ys fo
r tim
e-se
nsiti
ve p
roje
cts.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s co
mm
itted
to m
inim
isin
g de
lays
for t
ime-
sens
itive
pro
ject
s. It
doe
s so
thro
ugh
a nu
mbe
r of
mec
hani
sms,
not
lim
ited
to n
atur
al re
sour
ce m
anag
emen
t (N
RM
) pro
gram
s, in
clud
ing
as a
sig
nato
ry to
resp
onse
ag
reem
ents
, im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e St
rong
er B
iose
curi
ty a
nd Q
uara
ntin
e In
itiat
ive
(SBQ
I) an
d in
itiat
ives
fund
ed
thro
ugh
the
Whi
te P
aper
s on
Agr
icul
tura
l Com
petit
iven
ess
and
Dev
elop
ing
Nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
.
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r res
pond
ing
to e
xotic
pes
ts a
nd d
isea
ses
that
are
det
ecte
d w
ithin
Aus
tral
ia a
nd h
ave
the
pote
ntia
l to
impa
ct o
n an
imal
, pla
nt o
r hum
an h
ealth
or t
he e
nviro
nmen
t are
set
out
in th
e N
EBR
A, E
AD
RA
, and
the
EPPR
D, t
o w
hich
th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t is
a si
gnat
ory.
The
effe
ctiv
enes
s an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of th
ese
agre
emen
ts is
revi
ewed
eve
ry
five
year
s.
In a
dditi
on to
bei
ng a
sig
nato
ry to
the
resp
onse
agr
eem
ents
, the
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
$20
mill
ion
over
four
yea
rs to
enh
ance
rap
id re
spon
se c
apab
ility
to a
ddre
ss u
rgen
t bio
secu
rity
issu
es th
roug
h th
e SB
QI.
The
SBQ
I in
clud
es d
edic
ated
reso
urce
s to
sup
port
a p
ool o
f ski
lled
and
expe
rienc
ed p
erso
nnel
and
a b
est p
ract
ice
natio
nal
netw
ork
for d
iagn
ostic
and
resp
onse
man
agem
ent e
xper
tise.
It is
ava
ilabl
e to
ass
ist w
ith a
n in
curs
ion
in th
e ea
rly s
tage
s to
redu
ce a
dver
se im
pact
s, in
clud
ing
to th
e en
viro
nmen
t.
The
SBQ
I doe
s no
t rep
lace
nor
mal
com
mitm
ents
und
erta
ken
by s
tate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
but
com
plem
ents
thei
r eff
orts
, par
ticul
arly
in th
e in
itial
sta
ge o
f an
incu
rsio
n.
The
com
mitm
ent a
lso
incl
udes
a r
ange
of p
repa
redn
ess
activ
ities
to b
uild
nat
iona
l cap
abili
ty a
nd p
rovi
de lo
ng-t
erm
be
nefit
s be
yond
the
com
plet
ion
of th
is in
itiat
ive.
Und
er th
e A
gric
ultu
ral C
ompe
titiv
enes
s W
hite
Pap
er, t
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t has
com
mitt
ed $
50 m
illio
n ov
er fo
ur y
ears
(sta
rtin
g 1
July
20
15) t
o su
ppor
t nat
iona
lly s
igni
fican
t agr
icul
tura
l an
d en
viro
nmen
tal p
est a
nd d
isea
se e
radi
catio
n pr
ogra
ms
and
enha
nced
resp
onse
cap
abili
ty.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent d
eliv
ers
NR
M p
rogr
ams
to a
ssis
t with
the
man
agem
ent o
f est
ablis
hed
pest
s an
d di
seas
es in
lin
e w
ith A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t prio
ritie
s an
d gr
ant a
dmin
istr
atio
n po
licy.
Thi
s in
clud
es p
rovi
ding
NR
M fu
ndin
g fo
r the
co
mm
unity
to a
chie
ve th
e st
rate
gic
obje
ctiv
es o
f the
Nat
iona
l Lan
dcar
e Pr
ogra
mm
e (N
LP) t
hrou
gh in
vest
men
t of m
ore
than
$45
0 m
illio
n ov
er fo
ur y
ears
(20
14–1
8) w
ith th
e 56
regi
onal
NR
M o
rgan
isat
ions
acr
oss
Aus
tral
ia.
Thes
e re
gion
al N
RM
org
anis
atio
ns h
ave
been
allo
cate
d fu
ndin
g un
der t
his
inve
stm
ent u
ntil
2018
. The
fund
ing
is p
rovi
ded
on a
yea
rly b
asis
thro
ugh
the
stat
e (w
here
the
regi
onal
bod
ies
are
stat
e-ba
sed
entit
ies)
or d
irect
to
com
mun
ity-b
ased
regi
onal
org
anis
atio
ns (r
egio
nal N
RM
gro
ups
and
entit
ies)
. The
regi
onal
NR
M o
rgan
isat
ions
act
as
deliv
ery
agen
ts u
nder
the
prog
ram
and
add
ress
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent o
utco
mes
and
regi
onal
prio
ritie
s su
ch a
s w
eed
and
pest
con
trol
, upt
ake
of s
usta
inab
le fa
rmin
g pr
actic
es a
nd b
iodi
vers
ity c
onse
rvat
ion.
Pla
nnin
g, m
anag
emen
t and
tim
ing
of a
ctiv
ities
ass
ocia
ted
with
this
fund
ing
is d
ecid
ed b
y th
e re
gion
al b
ody
in c
onsu
ltatio
n w
ith th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t and
thei
r com
mun
ities
. Reg
iona
l bod
ies
are
requ
ired
to a
lloca
te a
min
imum
of 2
0 p
er c
ent o
f the
ir an
nual
A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t NLP
fund
ing
to lo
cal,
on-g
roun
d pr
ojec
ts a
nd re
late
d ac
tiviti
es th
at a
re d
eliv
ered
by,
or d
irect
ly
enga
ge w
ith, t
he lo
cal c
omm
unity
. Thi
s fu
ndin
g is
ava
ilabl
e ov
er s
hort
(one
yea
r) a
nd lo
nger
-ter
m ti
mef
ram
es, a
nd
cont
ribut
es to
pro
vidi
ng o
utco
mes
for p
roje
cts
that
can
be
rega
rded
as
time-
sens
itive
.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
$2
0 m
illio
n ov
er fo
ur y
ears
to e
nhan
ce r
apid
re
spon
se c
apab
ility
to a
ddre
ss u
rgen
t bio
secu
rity
is
sues
thro
ugh
the
SBQ
I.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
$5
0 m
illio
n ov
er fo
ur y
ears
(sta
rtin
g 1
July
20
15)
to s
uppo
rt n
atio
nally
sig
nific
ant a
gric
ultu
ral a
nd
envi
ronm
enta
l pes
t and
dis
ease
era
dica
tion
prog
ram
s an
d en
hanc
e re
spon
se c
apab
ility
.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
60 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
8 (c
onti
nued
):
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t rev
iew
pr
oces
ses
for a
lloca
ting
fund
ing
unde
r the
ir na
tura
l res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t pro
gram
s w
ith a
vie
w to
min
imis
ing
dela
ys fo
r tim
e-se
nsiti
ve p
roje
cts.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent w
ill c
ontin
ue to
revi
ew N
RM
pro
gram
del
iver
y ar
rang
emen
ts w
ith a
vie
w to
sim
plif
ying
ar
rang
emen
ts s
o it
can
quic
kly
and
easi
ly re
spon
d to
em
ergi
ng is
sues
. Sta
keho
lder
feed
back
is s
ough
t and
revi
ewed
fo
llow
ing
prog
ram
fund
ing
roun
ds to
ens
ure
that
futu
re p
roce
sses
min
imis
e ad
min
istr
ativ
e co
sts
and
avoi
d un
nece
ssar
y de
lays
. The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent w
ill c
ontin
ue to
take
into
con
side
ratio
n le
sson
s le
arnt
and
opp
ortu
nitie
s fo
r im
prov
emen
t in
the
deve
lopm
ent o
f fut
ure
fund
ing
roun
ds to
impr
ove
effici
ency
.
The
man
agem
ent o
f est
ablis
hed
pest
s is
prim
arily
the
resp
onsi
bilit
y of
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts a
nd la
nd
man
ager
s. H
owev
er, t
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t doe
s m
ake
som
e st
rate
gic
inve
stm
ents
in p
est a
nd w
eed
man
agem
ent
whe
re it
is in
the
natio
nal i
nter
est.
For e
xam
ple,
as
part
of t
he D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy’
s Th
reat
ened
Sp
ecie
s St
rate
gy, m
ore
than
$10
mill
ion
has
been
mob
ilise
d fo
r pro
ject
s co
mm
itted
to re
duce
the
thre
at o
f fer
al c
ats.
Thro
ugh
the
Agr
icul
tura
l Com
petit
iven
ess
Whi
te P
aper
, the
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s pr
ovid
ing
fund
ing
to s
tate
and
te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts to
del
iver
pro
ject
s to
bui
ld th
e sk
ills
and
capa
city
of l
andh
olde
rs, i
ndus
try
and
com
mun
ity g
roup
s in
man
agin
g es
tabl
ishe
d an
imal
pes
ts a
nd w
eeds
on
the
grou
nd. F
undi
ng is
als
o av
aila
ble
to d
evel
op a
nd im
prov
e be
tter
te
chno
logi
es a
nd to
ols
to ta
ckle
est
ablis
hed
pest
ani
mal
and
wee
d sp
ecie
s.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
61Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
9:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t wor
k w
ith th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re to
de
velo
p an
d pu
blis
h a
natio
nal p
riori
ty li
st
of p
ests
and
dis
ease
s no
t yet
est
ablis
hed
in A
ustr
alia
that
are
of e
nviro
nmen
tal
bios
ecur
ity c
once
rn.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent,
stat
e an
d te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts a
nd in
dust
ries
mai
ntai
n a
rang
e of
pes
t and
dis
ease
list
s fo
r a
varie
ty o
f pur
pose
s. F
or e
xam
ple,
ther
e ar
e a
rang
e of
not
ifiab
le p
est o
r dis
ease
list
s to
mee
t dom
estic
or i
nter
natio
nal
repo
rtin
g ob
ligat
ions
or t
o pr
iori
tise
actio
n, s
uch
as s
urve
illan
ce, d
iagn
ostic
or i
nter
vent
ion
effor
t.
In Ju
ly 2
015
, the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
com
men
ced
wor
king
thro
ugh
the
Aus
tral
ian
Bure
au
of A
gric
ultu
ral a
nd R
esou
rce
Econ
omic
s an
d Sc
ienc
es (A
BAR
ES) t
o id
entif
y po
tent
ial i
nvas
ive
spec
ies
and
dise
ases
that
ha
ve p
redo
min
atel
y en
viro
nmen
tal i
mpa
cts,
and
to d
evel
op p
roce
sses
to b
ette
r diff
eren
tiate
bet
wee
n w
eed
thre
ats
that
ha
ve e
nviro
nmen
tal v
ersu
s pr
oduc
tion
impa
cts.
Thi
s w
ork
will
str
engt
hen
exis
ting
natio
nal b
iose
curi
ty a
rran
gem
ents
to
man
age
the
risk
of e
ntry
to A
ustr
alia
of e
xotic
wee
ds a
nd b
ette
r inf
orm
pre
pare
dnes
s an
d er
adic
atio
n ar
rang
emen
ts to
re
spon
d to
exo
tic w
eeds
and
env
ironm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
thre
ats
if th
ey a
rise.
The
Plan
t Hea
lth C
omm
ittee
(PH
C) h
as e
ndor
sed
a Pl
ant P
est P
riori
tisat
ion
Fram
ewor
k w
hich
pro
vide
s a
gene
ric a
nd
syst
emat
ic a
ppro
ach
to p
riori
tisat
ion
of e
xotic
pla
nt p
ests
, inc
ludi
ng th
ose
pest
s th
at im
pact
on
the
envi
ronm
ent,
to
enab
le g
over
nmen
ts a
nd o
ther
dec
isio
n m
aker
s to
focu
s th
eir b
iose
curi
ty in
vest
men
t.
The
fram
ewor
k ap
plie
s th
e na
tiona
l sig
nific
ance
and
nat
iona
l int
eres
t prin
cipl
es d
evel
oped
by
the
NBC
, and
set
s ou
t the
po
licy
obje
ctiv
es a
nd c
rite
ria fo
r prio
ritis
atio
n. T
hrou
gh a
nat
iona
l exp
ert e
licita
tion
proc
ess
whi
ch a
pplie
d th
e pr
inci
ples
an
d cr
iteria
set
out
in th
e fr
amew
ork,
43
Nat
iona
l Prio
rity
Pla
nt P
ests
(NPP
P) h
ave
been
iden
tified
and
end
orse
d by
the
PHC
. A c
ompl
ete
list o
f the
43
NPP
Ps is
ava
ilabl
e fr
om th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es w
ebsi
te.
Of t
hese
indi
vidu
al p
ests
or g
roup
s of
sim
ilar p
ests
, 16
are
expe
cted
to h
ave
a si
gnifi
cant
neg
ativ
e im
pact
on
Aus
tral
ian
nativ
e pl
ants
, ani
mal
s an
d/or
the
envi
ronm
ent.
The
NPP
P w
ill b
e us
ed to
gui
de g
over
nmen
t effo
rt, i
nves
tmen
t and
nat
iona
l act
ion,
and
the
PHC
will
revi
ew th
e pe
sts
to id
entif
y ga
ps in
pre
vent
ion
and
prep
ared
ness
. The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
will
use
th
e na
tiona
l prio
ritie
s to
focu
s pr
epar
edne
ss a
ctiv
ities
, inc
ludi
ng w
ith fu
ndin
g pr
ovid
ed th
roug
h th
e A
gric
ultu
ral
Com
petit
iven
ess
Whi
te P
aper
.
The
Inva
sive
Pla
nts
and
Ani
mal
s Co
mm
ittee
(IPA
C), a
sub
com
mitt
ee o
f the
NBC
, is
curr
ently
dev
elop
ing
a lis
t of n
atio
nal
surv
eilla
nce
targ
ets
for e
xotic
ver
tebr
ates
. The
10
spe
cies
on
the
list a
re in
tend
ed a
s le
adin
g ex
ampl
es o
f am
phib
ians
, re
ptile
s, b
irds,
mam
mal
s an
d fis
h th
at c
ould
bec
ome
esta
blis
hed
in th
e A
ustr
alia
n en
viro
nmen
t eith
er th
roug
h an
ac
cide
ntal
pat
hway
to A
ustr
alia
(for
exa
mpl
e, s
tow
away
s) o
r a li
kely
ille
gal d
elib
erat
e in
trod
uctio
n (f
or e
xam
ple,
sm
uggl
ed o
r ille
gally
kep
t). E
ach
of th
e 10
spe
cies
wou
ld p
ose
natio
nally
sig
nific
ant i
mpa
cts,
and
cou
ld fo
rm th
e ba
sis
of s
urve
illan
ce, e
duca
tion
and
prep
ared
ness
act
iviti
es c
oord
inat
ed a
mon
g go
vern
men
ts a
nd w
ith in
dust
ry a
nd th
e w
ider
com
mun
ity.
The
Ani
mal
Hea
lth C
omm
ittee
(AH
C) m
aint
ains
the
Nat
iona
l Lis
t of N
otifi
able
Ani
mal
Dis
ease
s to
faci
litat
e di
seas
e re
port
ing
and
cont
rol o
f ter
rest
rial a
nim
als.
The
list
incl
udes
key
dis
ease
s on
the
Wor
ld O
rgan
isat
ion
of A
nim
al H
ealth
(O
IE) l
ist o
f not
ifiab
le d
isea
ses
as w
ell a
s en
dem
ic d
isea
ses
of n
atio
nal s
igni
fican
ce. T
he re
quire
men
t to
repo
rt a
no
tifiab
le d
isea
se is
con
tain
ed in
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry le
gisl
atio
n an
d oc
curr
ence
s of
dis
ease
s on
this
list
mus
t be
repo
rted
to
sta
te o
r ter
rito
ry a
utho
ritie
s. T
he li
st is
regu
larly
revi
ewed
and
upd
ated
by
the
AH
C—it
was
last
revi
ewed
in 2
013
and
is
cur
rent
ly u
nder
revi
ew.
In re
latio
n to
mar
ine
pest
s, th
e M
arin
e Pe
st S
ecto
ral C
omm
ittee
(MPS
C) is
cur
rent
ly d
evel
opin
g th
e A
ustr
alia
n Pr
iori
ty
Mar
ine
Pest
s Li
st. T
his
list w
ill in
clud
e bo
th e
stab
lishe
d an
d ex
otic
spe
cies
and
will
form
the
basi
s of
Aus
tral
ia’s
repo
rtin
g sy
stem
for m
arin
e pe
sts,
and
will
als
o fa
cilit
ate
resp
onse
s to
mar
ine
pest
em
erge
ncie
s. E
xotic
mar
ine
pest
s w
ill b
e in
clud
ed if
they
mee
t the
nat
iona
l sig
nific
ance
cri
terio
n ou
tline
d in
the
NEB
RA
. Env
ironm
enta
l im
pact
s ar
e in
clud
ed in
th
e na
tiona
l sig
nific
ance
cri
terio
n.
A N
atio
nal L
ist o
f Rep
orta
ble
Dis
ease
of A
quat
ic A
nim
als
has
also
bee
n de
velo
ped
to id
entif
y pr
iori
ty a
quat
ic a
nim
al
dise
ases
of i
mpo
rtan
ce to
Aus
tral
ia, m
any
of w
hich
cou
ld a
ffect
bot
h in
dust
ry a
nd/o
r the
env
ironm
ent.
This
incl
udes
bo
th e
xotic
and
end
emic
dis
ease
s.
Whi
le th
ese
lists
will
ass
ist i
n pr
iori
tisin
g hi
gh im
pact
pes
ts, t
he D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es
cont
inue
s to
con
duct
act
iviti
es a
t the
bor
der f
or a
ll ex
otic
pes
t inc
ursi
ons.
In Ju
ly 2
015
Agr
icul
ture
com
men
ced
wor
king
th
roug
h th
e A
ustr
alia
n Bu
reau
of A
gric
ultu
ral a
nd
Reso
urce
Eco
nom
ics
and
Scie
nces
(ABA
RES
) to
iden
tify
pote
ntia
l inv
asiv
e sp
ecie
s an
d di
seas
es
that
hav
e pr
edom
inat
ely
envi
ronm
enta
l im
pact
s,
and
to d
evel
op p
roce
sses
to b
ette
r diff
eren
tiate
be
twee
n w
eed
thre
ats
that
hav
e en
viro
nmen
tal
vers
us p
rodu
ctio
n im
pact
s.
In re
latio
n to
mar
ine
pest
s, th
e M
arin
e Pe
st
Sect
oral
Com
mitt
ee (M
PSC)
is c
urre
ntly
de
velo
ping
the
Aus
tral
ian
Prio
rity
Mar
ine
Pest
s Li
st. T
his
list w
ill in
clud
e bo
th e
stab
lishe
d an
d ex
otic
spe
cies
and
will
form
the
basi
s of
A
ustr
alia
’s re
port
ing
syst
em fo
r mar
ine
pest
s,
and
will
als
o fa
cilit
ate
resp
onse
s to
mar
ine
pest
em
erge
ncie
s.
A N
atio
nal L
ist o
f Rep
orta
ble
Dis
ease
of A
quat
ic
Ani
mal
s ha
s al
so b
een
deve
lope
d to
iden
tify
prio
rity
aqu
atic
ani
mal
dis
ease
s of
impo
rtan
ce
to A
ustr
alia
, man
y of
whi
ch c
ould
affe
ct b
oth
indu
stry
and
/or t
he e
nviro
nmen
t. Th
is in
clud
es
both
exo
tic a
nd e
ndem
ic d
isea
ses.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
62 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
10
:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re re
view
and
up
date
the
Nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
Qua
rant
ine
Stra
tegy
by
mid
-20
16, a
nd th
at th
is re
view
sp
ecifi
cally
exa
min
e th
e ad
equa
cy o
f re
sour
ces
avai
labl
e to
impl
emen
t the
st
rate
gy a
nd s
ugge
st c
hang
es th
at c
an b
e m
ade
to im
prov
e en
viro
nmen
tal b
iose
curi
ty
outc
omes
und
er th
e st
rate
gy.
Supp
orte
d
The
Nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
Qua
rant
ine
Stra
tegy
(NA
QS)
will
con
tinue
to m
onito
r for
incu
rsio
ns o
f new
pes
ts a
nd d
isea
ses
esta
blis
hing
in th
e no
rth
and
pote
ntia
lly m
ovin
g so
uth.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
to s
tren
gthe
n bi
osec
urity
in n
orth
ern
Aus
tral
ia a
s pa
rt o
f its
com
mitm
ent t
o en
sure
that
bio
secu
rity
ris
ks in
the
nort
h co
ntin
ue to
be
appr
opria
tely
man
aged
thro
ugh
the
Whi
te P
aper
s on
Agr
icul
ture
Com
petit
iven
ess
and
Dev
elop
ing
Nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
. Fo
r exa
mpl
e, u
nder
the
Agr
icul
ture
Com
petit
iven
ess
Whi
te P
aper
, the
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
ove
r $6
0 m
illio
n to
des
ign,
impl
emen
t and
pro
mot
e co
llabo
rativ
e bi
osec
urity
sur
veill
ance
pra
ctic
e an
d te
chno
logi
es fo
r pr
iori
ty p
ests
, dis
ease
s an
d/or
loca
tions
in n
orth
ern
Aus
tral
ia. A
n ad
ditio
nal $
12.4
mill
ion
in fu
ndin
g fo
r Ind
igen
ous
Ran
ger g
roup
s to
exp
and
surv
eilla
nce
and
com
plia
nce
activ
ities
in n
orth
ern
Aus
tral
ia w
as a
lso
anno
unce
d in
the
Whi
te
Pape
r on
Dev
elop
ing
Nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
ove
r $6
0 m
illio
n to
des
ign,
impl
emen
t and
pro
mot
e co
llabo
rativ
e bi
osec
urity
sur
veill
ance
pra
ctic
e an
d te
chno
logi
es fo
r prio
rity
pes
ts, d
isea
ses
and/
or
loca
tions
in n
orth
ern
Aus
tral
ia. A
n ad
ditio
nal
$12.
4 m
illio
n in
fund
ing
for I
ndig
enou
s R
ange
r gr
oups
to e
xpan
d su
rvei
llanc
e an
d co
mpl
ianc
e ac
tiviti
es in
nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
Rec
omm
enda
tion
11:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at b
oth
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent c
ondu
ct
revi
ews
to a
sses
s w
heth
er th
eir e
xist
ing
reso
urce
s ca
n be
bet
ter t
arge
ted
to
addr
ess
know
n ar
eas
of e
nviro
nmen
tal
bios
ecur
ity r
isk.
In p
artic
ular
, the
com
mitt
ee
reco
mm
ends
that
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
En
viro
nmen
t exa
min
e w
heth
er re
sour
ces
can
be d
irect
ed to
war
ds e
ffect
ive
impl
emen
tatio
n of
exi
stin
g th
reat
aba
tem
ent
plan
s un
der t
he E
nviro
nmen
t Pro
tect
ion
and
Biod
iver
sity
Con
serv
atio
n A
ct.
Supp
orte
d
Bios
ecur
ity is
the
man
agem
ent o
f the
ris
ks to
the
econ
omy,
the
envi
ronm
ent a
nd th
e co
mm
unity
, of p
ests
and
di
seas
es e
nter
ing,
em
ergi
ng, e
stab
lishi
ng o
r spr
eadi
ng—
it is
not
pos
sibl
e or
des
irabl
e to
man
age
bios
ecur
ity r
isks
to
one
sect
or in
isol
atio
n of
ano
ther
. The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s co
nsid
erin
g a
rang
e of
initi
ativ
es to
bet
ter t
arge
t ris
k m
anag
emen
t act
iviti
es a
nd s
tren
gthe
n th
e m
anag
emen
t of e
nviro
nmen
tal b
iose
curi
ty, i
nclu
ding
the
deve
lopm
ent o
f an
env
ironm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
pol
icy
stat
emen
t, an
d pr
ogre
ss re
port
s on
the
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent’s
man
agem
ent o
f bi
osec
urity
. Thi
s w
ork
will
incl
ude
exam
inin
g th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t’s e
ffort
in re
latio
n to
env
ironm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
.
The
NR
M p
rogr
ams
impl
emen
ted
by th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy
and
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
an
d W
ater
Res
ourc
es ta
rget
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent p
riori
ties,
incl
udin
g kn
own
area
s of
env
ironm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
ris
k.
For e
xam
ple,
und
er th
e G
reen
Arm
y Pr
ogra
m a
num
ber o
f Gre
en A
rmy
team
s us
ed b
ait s
tatio
ns to
con
trol
yel
low
cra
zy
ants
nex
t to
the
Wet
Tro
pics
Wor
ld H
erita
ge A
rea.
Und
er th
e re
gion
al s
trea
m o
f the
NR
M fu
ndin
g un
der t
he N
LP, o
ver $
450
mill
ion
is b
eing
spe
nt to
sup
port
loca
l act
ion
by lo
cal c
omm
uniti
es. T
hese
act
ions
are
exp
ecte
d to
add
ress
a r
ange
of p
riori
ties
incl
udin
g en
viro
nmen
tal b
iose
curi
ty
risk.
Exa
mpl
es in
clud
e:
• a
proj
ect s
pend
ing
over
$1
mill
ion
to c
ontr
ol w
oody
Wee
ds o
f Nat
iona
l Sig
nific
ance
in th
e La
ke E
yre
catc
hmen
ts o
f Q
ueen
slan
d
• th
e N
atur
al R
esou
rces
Kan
garo
o Is
land
’s p
roje
ct T
oo G
ood
to S
poil,
Too
Pre
ciou
s to
Los
e: a
bet
ter b
iose
curi
ty fu
ture
fo
r Kan
garo
o Is
land
, whi
ch is
add
ress
ing
envi
ronm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
ris
ks th
roug
h a
com
mun
ity e
duca
tion
and
surv
eilla
nce
prog
ram
to b
uild
fron
tline
def
ence
aga
inst
new
and
exi
stin
g la
nd a
nd m
arin
e in
fest
atio
ns.
The
outc
omes
of t
hese
pro
gram
s re
fere
nce
Aus
tral
ia’s
rele
vant
nat
iona
l and
inte
rnat
iona
l obl
igat
ions
, suc
h as
the
Conv
entio
n on
Bio
logi
cal D
iver
sity
, and
pro
tect
ing
and
cons
ervi
ng m
atte
rs o
f nat
iona
l env
ironm
enta
l sig
nific
ance
und
er
the
Envi
ronm
ent P
rote
ctio
n an
d Bi
odiv
ersi
ty C
onse
rvat
ion
Act
199
9 (E
PBC
Act
). O
utco
mes
als
o co
ntrib
ute
to a
ctio
ns
iden
tified
und
er e
xist
ing
thre
at a
bate
men
t pla
ns (
TAPs
).
NR
M p
rogr
ams
such
as
the
Gre
en A
rmy
and
20 M
illio
n Tr
ees
Prog
ram
me
incl
ude
asse
ssm
ent c
rite
ria re
latin
g to
the
exte
nt to
whi
ch p
roje
cts
cont
ribut
e to
war
ds th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of re
leva
nt n
atio
nal a
nd re
gion
al e
nviro
nmen
tal o
r co
nser
vatio
n m
anag
emen
t pla
ns. T
hese
pla
ns m
ay in
clud
e TA
Ps.
A n
umbe
r of G
reen
Arm
y te
ams
used
bai
t sta
tions
to
con
trol
yel
low
cra
zy a
nts
next
to th
e W
et
Trop
ics
Wor
ld H
erita
ge A
rea.
Und
er th
e re
gion
al s
trea
m o
f the
NR
M fu
ndin
g un
der t
he N
LP, o
ver $
450
mill
ion
is b
eing
spe
nt
to s
uppo
rt lo
cal a
ctio
n by
loca
l com
mun
ities
. Th
ese
actio
ns a
re e
xpec
ted
to a
ddre
ss a
ran
ge o
f pr
iori
ties
incl
udin
g en
viro
nmen
tal b
iose
curi
ty r
isk.
Ex
ampl
es in
clud
e:
• a
proj
ect s
pend
ing
over
$1
mill
ion
to c
ontr
ol
woo
dy W
eeds
of N
atio
nal S
igni
fican
ce in
the
Lake
Eyr
e ca
tchm
ents
of Q
ueen
slan
d
• th
e N
atur
al R
esou
rces
Kan
garo
o Is
land
’s
proj
ect T
oo G
ood
to S
poil,
Too
Pre
ciou
s to
Los
e:
a be
tter
bio
secu
rity
futu
re fo
r Kan
garo
o Is
land
, w
hich
is a
ddre
ssin
g en
viro
nmen
tal b
iose
curi
ty
risks
thro
ugh
a co
mm
unity
edu
catio
n an
d su
rvei
llanc
e pr
ogra
m to
bui
ld fr
ontli
ne
defe
nce
agai
nst n
ew a
nd e
xist
ing
land
and
m
arin
e in
fest
atio
ns.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
63Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
12:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of I
ndus
try,
Inno
vatio
n an
d Sc
ienc
e de
velo
p a
stra
tegy
to a
ddre
ss th
e cu
rren
t, an
d pr
ojec
ted,
dec
line
in th
e le
vel
of s
cien
tific
expe
rtis
e in
are
as re
leva
nt to
bi
osec
urity
.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
In S
epte
mbe
r 20
14, A
ustr
alia
’s C
hief
Sci
entis
t rel
ease
d Sc
ienc
e, te
chno
logy
, eng
inee
ring
and
mat
hem
atic
s: A
ustr
alia
’s
futu
re, w
hich
mad
e 24
reco
mm
enda
tions
in th
e ar
eas
of A
ustr
alia
n co
mpe
titiv
enes
s, e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
, res
earc
h,
and
inte
rnat
iona
l eng
agem
ent.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as a
lread
y ta
ken
actio
ns to
add
ress
man
y of
the
area
s hi
ghlig
hted
for a
tten
tion,
thro
ugh
the
Nat
iona
l Inn
ovat
ion
and
Scie
nce
Age
nda,
ann
ounc
ed D
ecem
ber 2
015
.
As
part
of t
he N
atio
nal I
nnov
atio
n an
d Sc
ienc
e A
gend
a, th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t has
add
ress
ed m
any
of th
ese
issu
es. T
his
incl
udes
fund
ing
to g
et s
tude
nts
mor
e ex
cite
d by
sci
ence
, for
exa
mpl
e th
roug
h sc
ienc
e an
d m
athe
mat
ics
Oly
mpi
ads,
Mak
er p
roje
cts,
att
enda
nce
at s
cien
ce e
vent
s an
d co
mpe
titio
ns, a
nd s
uppo
rtin
g N
atio
nal S
cien
ce W
eek.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s co
mm
itted
to e
nsur
ing
Aus
tral
ia c
ontin
ues
to d
evel
op a
nd s
uppo
rt s
cien
tific
expe
rtis
e in
ar
eas
rele
vant
to b
iose
curi
ty. F
or e
xam
ple,
the
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as c
omm
itted
$20
mill
ion
over
five
yea
rs, f
rom
1
July
20
17, t
o bo
ost r
esea
rch
and
deve
lopm
ent a
imed
at e
radi
catin
g in
vasi
ve p
est s
peci
es b
y su
ppor
ting
the
tran
sitio
n of
th
e In
vasi
ve A
nim
als
Coop
erat
ive
Rese
arch
Cen
tre
into
the
Cent
re fo
r Inv
asiv
e Sp
ecie
s So
lutio
ns in
20
17.
–
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
64 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
13:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of I
ndus
try,
Inno
vatio
n an
d Sc
ienc
e, in
coo
pera
tion
with
the
Dep
artm
ent
of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he
Envi
ronm
ent,
cond
uct a
revi
ew to
prio
ritis
e A
ustr
alia
's b
iose
curi
ty re
sear
ch n
eeds
, bot
h en
viro
nmen
tal a
nd in
dust
ry-f
ocus
ed, a
nd
dete
rmin
e w
hat l
ong-
term
inst
itutio
nal
stru
ctur
e w
ill b
est a
ddre
ss th
ese
need
s.
The
com
mitt
ee a
lso
reco
mm
ends
that
this
re
view
spe
cific
ally
inve
stig
ate
whe
ther
A
ustr
alia
pos
sess
es s
uffici
ent r
esea
rch
capa
city
to e
xam
ine
the
effec
ts o
f clim
ate
chan
ge o
n in
vasi
ve s
peci
es a
nd, i
f not
, how
th
is c
an b
e ad
dres
sed.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
Ther
e ar
e a
num
ber o
f Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
nitia
tives
that
incl
ude
revi
ew p
roce
sses
to p
riori
tise
rese
arch
, inc
ludi
ng
rese
arch
cap
acity
and
rese
arch
to e
xam
ine
of th
e eff
ects
of c
limat
e va
riabi
lity.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent h
as
esta
blis
hed
a se
t of s
cien
ce a
nd re
sear
ch p
riori
ties
and
asso
ciat
ed p
ract
ical
rese
arch
cha
lleng
es. T
he p
riori
ties
have
be
en im
plem
ente
d by
the
Nat
iona
l Sci
ence
, Tec
hnol
ogy
and
Rese
arch
Com
mitt
ee o
f the
Com
mon
wea
lth S
cien
ce
Coun
cil,
led
by th
e Ch
ief S
cien
tist,
Dr A
lan
Fink
el A
O, a
nd c
onsi
dere
d in
put f
rom
rese
arch
ers,
indu
stry
lead
ers
and
gove
rnm
ent r
epre
sent
ativ
es.
The
scie
nce
and
rese
arch
prio
ritie
s ar
e: fo
od; s
oil a
nd w
ater
; tra
nspo
rt; c
yber
sec
urity
; ene
rgy;
reso
urce
s; a
dvan
ced
man
ufac
turin
g; e
nviro
nmen
tal c
hang
e; a
nd h
ealth
. The
se p
riori
ties
will
like
ly a
ddre
ss m
any
area
s re
leva
nt to
bio
secu
rity
an
d cl
imat
e va
riabi
lity,
par
ticul
arly
thro
ugh
the
food
, soi
l and
wat
er a
nd e
nviro
nmen
tal c
hang
e pr
iori
ties.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y ad
min
iste
rs th
e N
atio
nal E
nviro
nmen
tal S
cien
ce P
rogr
amm
e (N
ESP)
, w
hich
fund
s w
orld
-cla
ss e
nviro
nmen
tal a
nd c
limat
e sc
ienc
e re
sear
ch to
info
rm d
ecis
ion-
mak
ing.
The
NES
P is
del
iver
ed th
roug
h si
x m
ultid
isci
plin
ary
hubs
, eac
h w
ith d
istin
ct re
sear
ch o
bjec
tives
. Res
earc
h th
emes
in
clud
e th
reat
ened
spe
cies
reco
very
, clim
ate
chan
ge, t
he s
usta
inab
le d
evel
opm
ent o
f nor
ther
n A
ustr
alia
, mar
ine
biod
iver
sity
, wat
er q
ualit
y in
the
Gre
at B
arrie
r Ree
f, an
d ai
r qua
lity
and
livea
bilit
y in
urb
an la
ndsc
apes
.
The
NES
P en
cour
ages
a c
olla
bora
tive
appr
oach
to d
evel
opin
g an
d de
liver
ing
rese
arch
obj
ectiv
es. O
ver t
he s
ix y
ears
of
the
NES
P, th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy
will
wor
k w
ith th
e M
inis
ter f
or th
e En
viro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy
to d
eter
min
e re
sear
ch p
riori
ties
for N
ESP
hubs
to g
uide
ann
ual u
pdat
es o
f the
Hub
Res
earc
h Pl
ans.
Inpu
t will
als
o be
sou
ght f
rom
oth
er g
over
nmen
t dep
artm
ents
, lev
els
of g
over
nmen
t, en
viro
nmen
t non
-gov
ernm
ent o
rgan
isat
ions
, In
dige
nous
gro
ups
and
indu
stry
in d
evel
opin
g th
eir H
ub R
esea
rch
Plan
s.
A r
ange
of A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
earc
h in
itiat
ives
info
rm b
iose
curi
ty m
anag
emen
t and
nat
ural
reso
urce
m
anag
emen
t thr
ough
clim
ate
proj
ectio
ns, r
esea
rch
on c
limat
e va
riabi
lity
impa
cts
and
mod
ellin
g of
the
pote
ntia
l di
strib
utio
n of
exo
tic p
ests
. CSI
RO is
est
ablis
hing
a n
ew C
limat
e Sc
ienc
e Ce
ntre
to b
e ba
sed
in H
obar
t; a
new
dec
adal
cl
imat
e m
onito
ring
and
fore
cast
ing
capa
city
with
in th
e ne
w H
obar
t Cen
tre,
whi
ch re
pres
ents
a $
37 m
illio
n in
vest
men
t ov
er 1
0 y
ears
, and
15
new
pos
ition
s w
ithin
the
new
CSI
RO C
limat
e Sc
ienc
e Ce
ntre
, whi
ch re
pres
ents
an
incr
ease
on
curr
ent s
taffi
ng le
vels
of a
ppro
xim
atel
y 13
per
cen
t. Th
e ce
ntre
will
brin
g to
geth
er th
e co
re o
f CSI
RO’s
cap
abili
ty in
cl
imat
e m
odel
ling
and
obse
rvat
ions
of t
he a
tmos
pher
e an
d oc
ean.
It is
bei
ng d
evel
oped
in c
lose
col
labo
ratio
n w
ith
exis
ting
rese
arch
pro
gram
s an
d w
ith re
sear
ch p
artn
ers
incl
udin
g th
e Bu
reau
of M
eteo
rolo
gy, A
ustr
alia
n un
iver
sitie
s an
d ov
erse
as in
stitu
tions
. The
pro
ject
ions
are
the
mos
t com
preh
ensi
ve e
ver r
elea
sed
for A
ustr
alia
and
wer
e pr
epar
ed w
ith
an e
mph
asis
on
info
rmin
g im
pact
ass
essm
ents
and
pla
nnin
g in
the
natu
ral r
esou
rce
man
agem
ent s
ecto
r.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Inst
itute
of M
arin
e Sc
ienc
e (A
IMS)
, Aus
tral
ia’s
trop
ical
mar
ine
scie
nce
agen
cy, o
pera
tes
mon
itorin
g pr
ogra
ms
cont
ribut
ing
to th
e su
stai
nabl
e us
e an
d de
velo
pmen
t of t
he tr
opic
al m
arin
e en
viro
nmen
t. Fo
r exa
mpl
e,
AIM
S ha
s th
e on
ly lo
ng-t
erm
, com
preh
ensi
ve d
atas
et c
over
ing
the
heal
th o
f the
Gre
at B
arrie
r Ree
f, sp
anni
ng th
ree
deca
des
and
incl
udin
g m
onito
ring
of re
ef o
rgan
ism
s an
d en
viro
nmen
tal m
onito
ring
of w
ater
qua
lity,
wea
ther
and
se
a te
mpe
ratu
res.
AIM
S al
so u
nder
take
s in
terd
isci
plin
ary
rese
arch
to p
rovi
de m
anag
ers
and
polic
ymak
ers
with
the
best
und
erst
andi
ng o
f the
vul
nera
bilit
y of
trop
ical
mar
ine
ecos
yste
ms
to c
limat
e ch
ange
, oce
an a
cidi
ficat
ion
and
loca
l en
viro
nmen
tal s
tres
sors
. Its
Nat
iona
l Sea
Sim
ulat
or (S
eaSi
m) a
lso
play
s a
key
rese
arch
role
by
repl
icat
ing
futu
re c
limat
e sc
enar
ios
to b
ette
r und
erst
and
the
impa
ct o
f com
plex
env
ironm
enta
l cha
nges
on
trop
ical
mar
ine
ecos
yste
ms.
ABA
RES
has
dev
elop
ed C
limat
ch, a
web
-bas
ed a
pplic
atio
n fo
r com
parin
g cl
imat
e ch
arac
teris
tics
betw
een
regi
ons.
Th
is p
rogr
am is
typ
ical
ly u
sed
for p
redi
ctin
g th
e po
tent
ial s
prea
d of
intr
oduc
ed o
r inv
asiv
e sp
ecie
s by
usi
ng k
now
n ge
ogra
phic
dis
trib
utio
ns o
f exo
tic p
ests
and
dis
ease
s to
mod
el p
oten
tial d
istr
ibut
ion
in A
ustr
alia
bas
ed o
n cl
imat
ic
para
met
ers
(tem
pera
ture
, rai
nfal
l). T
he M
ulti-
Crite
ria A
naly
sis
Shel
l for
Spa
tial D
ecis
ion
Supp
ort (
MC
AS-
S) is
ano
ther
so
ftw
are
and
map
ping
pac
kage
dev
elop
ed b
y A
BAR
ES th
at p
rovi
des
a po
wer
ful t
ool f
or s
patia
l inf
orm
atio
n as
sess
men
t in
dec
isio
n-m
akin
g co
ntex
ts. C
limat
ch a
nd M
CA
S-S
can
be c
ombi
ned
in a
pre
pare
dnes
s co
ntex
t to
mod
el th
e po
tent
ial
dist
ribut
ion
of e
xotic
pes
ts, b
ased
on
clim
atic
and
land
use
dat
a.
–
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
65Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
14
:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at,
follo
win
g th
e ex
ampl
e of
the
New
Zea
land
M
arin
e In
vasi
ve T
axon
omic
Ser
vice
, the
Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
to e
stab
lish
a co
ordi
nate
d ta
xono
mic
iden
tifica
tion
serv
ice
that
util
ises
exi
stin
g sc
ient
ific
expe
rtis
e, p
artic
ular
ly th
at p
rese
nt in
nat
ural
hi
stor
y m
useu
ms.
Not
ed
Taxo
nom
ic s
ervi
ces
are
curr
ently
pro
vide
d on
an
ad h
oc b
asis
by
stat
e an
d te
rrito
ry m
useu
ms,
uni
vers
ities
and
in
depe
nden
t exp
erts
.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Biol
ogic
al R
esou
rces
Stu
dy, a
dmin
iste
red
by th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy,
has
co
ordi
nate
d ta
xono
mic
rese
arch
in A
ustr
alia
for m
ore
than
40
yea
rs a
nd is
a re
cogn
ised
wor
ld le
ader
in m
akin
g au
thor
itativ
e ta
xono
mic
info
rmat
ion
wid
ely
avai
labl
e th
roug
h in
tern
atio
nally
reco
gnis
ed s
cien
tific
publ
icat
ions
, id
entifi
catio
n to
ols
and
publ
icly
acc
essi
ble
onlin
e bi
odiv
ersi
ty in
form
atio
n da
taba
ses.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
rece
ntly
con
duct
ed a
revi
ew o
f Nat
iona
l Mar
ine
Pest
Bio
secu
rity
ar
rang
emen
ts, w
hich
con
side
red
inpu
t fro
m a
ran
ge o
f sta
keho
lder
s. S
ome
stak
ehol
ders
exp
ress
ed th
e ne
ed
for a
coo
rdin
ated
app
roac
h to
mar
ine
pest
taxo
nom
y. T
he re
view
repo
rt a
nd re
com
men
datio
ns a
re a
vaila
ble
at
agric
ultu
re.g
ov.a
u.
The
revi
ew m
ade
a nu
mbe
r of r
ecom
men
datio
ns to
war
d a
new
focu
s on
pre
vent
ion
activ
ities
, suc
h as
bet
ter
rela
tions
hips
bet
wee
n re
sear
cher
s, m
arin
e ba
sed
indu
strie
s, g
over
nmen
t and
the
com
mun
ity. I
t als
o re
com
men
ds th
e de
velo
pmen
t of s
tron
ger r
espo
nse
arra
ngem
ents
for d
ealin
g w
ith in
curs
ions
.
The
reco
mm
enda
tions
will
be
impl
emen
ted
over
20
15–1
8. T
his
wor
k w
ill in
volv
e w
orki
ng c
lose
ly w
ith s
take
hold
ers
to s
tren
gthe
n na
tiona
l mar
ine
pest
bio
secu
rity
arr
ange
men
ts to
redu
ce th
e ris
k of
mar
ine
pest
s fr
om e
stab
lishi
ng in
A
ustr
alia
n w
ater
s.
–
Rec
omm
enda
tion
15:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re u
nder
take
en
forc
emen
t act
iviti
es a
gain
st in
tern
et
reta
ilers
and
mar
ketp
lace
s th
at re
peat
edly
br
each
Aus
tral
ia's
pla
nt a
nd s
eed
impo
rt
requ
irem
ents
and
wor
k w
ith th
ese
busi
ness
es to
ens
ure
war
ning
s ar
e di
spla
yed
whe
n cu
stom
ers
atte
mpt
to p
urch
ase
proh
ibite
d pl
ants
and
see
ds.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
Und
er A
ustr
alia
’s B
iose
curi
ty A
ct, t
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t’s re
gula
tory
(enf
orce
men
t) re
ach
only
ext
ends
to
Aus
tral
ian-
base
d en
titie
s. T
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t has
a v
ery
limite
d ab
ility
to ta
ke e
nfor
cem
ent a
ctio
n ag
ains
t en
titie
s th
at o
pera
te b
eyon
d th
e A
ustr
alia
n ju
risdi
ctio
n. G
ener
ally
enf
orce
men
t act
ion
in p
lace
s ou
tsid
e of
Aus
tral
ia c
an
only
be
achi
eved
thro
ugh
requ
ests
for m
utua
l ass
ista
nce
via
the
Att
orne
y-G
ener
al’s
Dep
artm
ent.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
cur
rent
ly u
ses
coop
erat
ive
arra
ngem
ents
with
a n
umbe
r of
com
mon
inte
rnet
mar
ketp
lace
s w
here
war
ning
s ar
e pu
blis
hed
whe
n A
ustr
alia
n pu
rcha
sers
att
empt
to b
uy it
ems
of
bios
ecur
ity c
once
rn.
It is
not
pos
sibl
e to
ach
ieve
suc
h co
oper
ativ
e ar
rang
emen
ts w
ith a
ll in
tern
et m
arke
tpla
ces
due
to th
e nu
mbe
r and
lack
of
vis
ibili
ty o
f suc
h m
arke
tpla
ces,
and
as
a re
sult
thes
e ap
proa
ches
oft
en h
ave
only
par
tial e
ffect
. At t
he re
ques
t of t
he
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
, eBa
y A
ustr
alia
has
clo
sed
dow
n a
num
ber o
f sel
lers
of b
iose
curi
ty r
isk
prod
ucts
. Thi
s do
es n
ot s
top
selle
rs re
-ope
ning
on
othe
r site
s or
und
er n
ew id
entit
ies.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
als
o us
es a
com
bina
tion
of a
ltern
ativ
e m
easu
res
to im
prov
e co
mpl
ianc
e an
d m
inim
ise
the
inci
denc
e of
ris
k ite
ms
sold
via
inte
rnet
mar
ketp
lace
s pa
ssin
g th
roug
h th
e A
ustr
alia
n bo
rder
. Thi
s in
clud
es in
form
atio
n sh
arin
g be
twee
n A
ustr
alia
and
fore
ign
juris
dict
ions
thro
ugh
the
Inte
rnat
iona
l Pla
nt
Prot
ectio
n Co
nven
tion
netw
ork
and
the
impr
oved
use
d of
inte
llige
nce
and
targ
etin
g of
kno
wn
offen
ders
.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
rece
ntly
com
plet
ed a
revi
ew o
f cur
rent
mai
l pat
hway
‘pro
files
’. Th
e de
part
men
t use
s ‘p
rofil
es’ t
o de
term
ine
risk
path
way
s an
d m
anag
e in
terv
entio
n pr
actic
es. A
s a
resu
lt of
the
revi
ew,
upda
ted
pass
enge
r pro
files
hav
e be
en im
plem
ente
d an
d a
perio
dic
revi
ew w
ill b
e co
nduc
ted
at a
ppro
pria
te in
terv
als.
Agr
icul
ture
use
s co
oper
ativ
e ar
rang
emen
ts w
ith
a nu
mbe
r of c
omm
on in
tern
et m
arke
tpla
ces
whe
re w
arni
ngs
are
publ
ishe
d w
hen
Aus
tral
ian
purc
hase
rs a
ttem
pt to
buy
item
s of
bi
osec
urity
con
cern
.
This
incl
udes
info
rmat
ion
shar
ing
betw
een
Aus
tral
ia a
nd fo
reig
n ju
risdi
ctio
ns th
roug
h th
e In
tern
atio
nal P
lant
Pro
tect
ion
Conv
entio
n ne
twor
k an
d th
e im
prov
ed u
sed
of in
telli
genc
e an
d ta
rget
ing
of k
now
n off
ende
rs.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
66 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
16:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t wor
k to
en
sure
that
the
mea
sure
s de
scrib
ed in
the
Tram
p A
nt T
hrea
t Aba
tem
ent P
lan
are
fully
im
plem
ente
d.
Supp
orte
d
The
2012
revi
ew o
f the
tram
p an
t TA
P id
entifi
ed s
ix fu
lly im
plem
ente
d ac
tions
in th
e pl
an; t
he re
mai
ning
nin
e ha
ve b
een
part
ially
impl
emen
ted.
The
TA
P w
as s
unse
t on
1 O
ctob
er 2
016
and
the
Min
iste
r for
the
Envi
ronm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y w
ill
cons
ider
whe
ther
a n
ew T
AP
shou
ld b
e m
ade.
Each
fina
ncia
l yea
r, th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t fun
ds T
AP
deve
lopm
ent a
nd im
plem
enta
tion
as p
art o
f a b
road
er b
udge
t ou
tcom
e re
late
d to
bio
dive
rsity
con
serv
atio
n. T
he fu
ndin
g pr
ovid
ed b
y th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy
for t
he im
plem
enta
tion
of in
divi
dual
TA
Ps m
ay v
ary
from
yea
r to
year
as
a ra
nge
of b
iodi
vers
ity c
onse
rvat
ion
prio
ritie
s ar
e ad
dres
sed.
–
Rec
omm
enda
tion
17:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at, w
ithin
th
e ne
xt 1
2 m
onth
s, th
e D
epar
tmen
t of
Agr
icul
ture
revi
ew it
s ca
rgo
surv
eilla
nce
mea
sure
s w
ith th
e ai
m o
f ach
ievi
ng b
ette
r de
tect
ion
rate
s of
inva
sive
spe
cies
in g
ener
al
and
of tr
amp
ants
in p
artic
ular
.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
To e
nsur
e th
at o
ngoi
ng a
ctiv
ities
are
targ
eted
to a
reas
of r
isk,
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
ag
rees
that
ther
e is
val
ue in
revi
ewin
g th
e br
oad
surv
eilla
nce
appr
oach
at t
he b
orde
r (no
t jus
t lim
ited
to c
argo
) to
cons
ider
the
type
s of
pes
ts to
be
targ
eted
, the
tim
es a
nd te
rms
of s
urve
illan
ce, t
he p
oten
tial f
or a
dditi
onal
off-
shor
e su
rvei
llanc
e an
d th
e be
st fo
rm o
f dat
a ca
ptur
e (a
nd s
harin
g).
This
revi
ew w
ill c
onsi
der s
peci
fic g
roup
s of
pes
ts, p
lant
dis
ease
s an
d w
eeds
whi
ch w
ill in
fluen
ce d
ecis
ion-
mak
ing
for e
ffect
ive
surv
eilla
nce
met
hods
at s
peci
fic lo
catio
ns th
roug
hout
the
year
and
will
be
ongo
ing.
It w
ill a
lso
cons
ider
ge
nera
l and
targ
eted
sur
veill
ance
act
iviti
es u
nder
take
n by
the
stat
es a
nd te
rrito
ries;
obl
igat
ions
und
er th
e IG
AB;
and
th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t’s ro
le in
und
erta
king
sur
veill
ance
act
iviti
es a
t pre
mis
es o
pera
ting
unde
r an
appr
oved
ar
rang
emen
t and
/or g
over
nmen
t-ow
ned
and
oper
ated
land
and
faci
litie
s.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
has
dev
elop
ed a
Nat
iona
l Bor
der S
urve
illan
ce P
olic
y (N
BS) t
o en
sure
coo
rdin
atio
n of
bio
secu
rity
sur
veill
ance
act
iviti
es c
ondu
cted
at b
orde
r loc
atio
ns, a
nd e
stab
lish
prin
cipl
es fo
r un
dert
akin
g th
ese
surv
eilla
nce
activ
ities
. As
NBS
is b
roug
ht in
to e
ffect
, the
re w
ill b
e th
ree
mai
n pr
oduc
ts. T
hese
are
:
• a
list o
f prio
ritie
s fo
r bor
der s
urve
illan
ce
• a
desc
riptio
n of
rela
tive
effor
ts to
war
ds e
ach
prio
rity
• re
sour
cing
for s
peci
fic s
urve
illan
ce a
ctiv
ities
.
The
purp
ose
of N
BS is
to fa
cilit
ate
the
timel
y de
tect
ion
of o
ppor
tuni
stic
or h
itchh
ikin
g pe
sts
that
mig
ht h
ave
ente
red
Aus
tral
ia o
n im
port
pat
hway
s an
d pr
esen
t on
land
s or
at f
acili
ties
that
are
in th
e br
oad
sens
e pa
rt o
f the
Aus
tral
ian
bord
er. T
he in
form
atio
n co
llect
ed w
ill b
e us
ed to
:
• en
able
a ti
mel
y re
spon
se to
a p
oten
tial i
ncur
sion
and
est
ablis
hmen
t eve
nt
• pr
ovid
e pe
rfor
man
ce in
form
atio
n an
d fe
edba
ck o
n qu
aran
tine
path
way
s
• m
onito
r tre
nds
in a
rriv
al/e
scap
e of
bio
secu
rity
ris
k
• m
onito
r cha
nges
to tr
ends
in re
spec
tive
air a
nd s
ea p
athw
ays
to in
form
bus
ines
s im
prov
emen
t and
NBS
del
iber
atio
n
• id
entif
y es
tabl
ishe
d sp
ecie
s in
spe
cific
env
ironm
ents
as
a ba
selin
e
• as
sist
in ta
rget
ing
and
prio
ritis
ing
post
-bor
der s
urve
illan
ce a
ctiv
ities
.
Agr
icul
ture
has
dev
elop
ed a
Nat
iona
l Bor
der
Surv
eilla
nce
Polic
y (N
BS) t
o en
sure
coo
rdin
atio
n of
bio
secu
rity
sur
veill
ance
act
iviti
es c
ondu
cted
at
bor
der l
ocat
ions
, and
est
ablis
h pr
inci
ples
for
unde
rtak
ing
thes
e su
rvei
llanc
e ac
tiviti
es.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
67Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
17
(con
tinu
ed):
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at, w
ithin
th
e ne
xt 1
2 m
onth
s, th
e D
epar
tmen
t of
Agr
icul
ture
revi
ew it
s ca
rgo
surv
eilla
nce
mea
sure
s w
ith th
e ai
m o
f ach
ievi
ng b
ette
r de
tect
ion
rate
s of
inva
sive
spe
cies
in g
ener
al
and
of tr
amp
ants
in p
artic
ular
.
Initi
al w
ork
is fo
cuse
d on
bor
der m
anag
emen
t (fir
st p
oint
s of
ent
ry) a
ctiv
ities
but
will
then
ext
end
into
an
inte
grat
ed
offsh
ore,
ons
hore
and
at b
orde
r sur
veill
ance
pro
gram
. Inv
olve
men
t of s
tate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
will
con
tinue
to
be a
n im
port
ant c
ompo
nent
of a
n eff
ectiv
e an
d in
tegr
ated
sur
veill
ance
app
roac
h an
d is
an
ongo
ing
poin
t of d
iscu
ssio
n th
roug
h th
e N
BC.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
per
form
s a
rang
e of
act
iviti
es d
esig
ned
to m
inim
ise
the
likel
ihoo
d of
an
incu
rsio
n of
exo
tic p
ests
and
dis
ease
s. T
he d
epar
tmen
t’s b
iose
curi
ty a
ctiv
ities
incl
ude
insp
ectio
ns o
f im
port
ed
com
mod
ities
for t
he p
rese
nce
of b
iose
curi
ty r
isks
com
mon
ly a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith th
ose
com
mod
ities
—an
d su
rvei
llanc
e of
ve
ssel
s, a
ircra
ft, c
argo
and
pla
ces
for h
itchh
iker
pes
ts th
at a
re n
ot s
peci
fical
ly a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith a
n im
port
com
mod
ity.
Curr
ent s
urve
illan
ce a
ctiv
ities
con
duct
ed b
y th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es ta
ke s
ever
al fo
rms
and
incl
udes
vis
ual s
urve
illan
ce ta
rget
ing
loca
tions
or a
rriv
al p
athw
ays
whe
re im
port
ed c
argo
is h
andl
ed, s
tore
d or
un
pack
ed, r
athe
r tha
n ta
rget
ing
part
icul
ar o
rgan
ism
s or
typ
es o
f bio
secu
rity
ris
k.
Spec
ialis
t sur
veill
ance
act
iviti
es a
re c
ondu
cted
in N
orth
ern
Aus
tral
ia u
nder
NA
QS
whe
re p
roxi
mity
to In
done
sia
and
Papu
a N
ew G
uine
a, s
pars
e se
ttle
men
t and
a tr
opic
al e
nviro
nmen
t nec
essi
tate
spe
cial
sur
veill
ance
act
iviti
es th
at t
ypic
ally
ex
tend
wel
l bey
ond
port
are
as.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
use
s ve
ctor
mon
itorin
g (t
raps
or l
ures
) to
dete
ct th
e pr
esen
ce o
f sp
ecifi
c pe
st t
ypes
—at
airp
orts
, sea
port
s, c
onta
iner
term
inal
s an
d pr
emis
es o
pera
ting
unde
r app
rove
d ar
rang
emen
ts—
incl
udin
g ex
tens
ive
mos
quito
trap
ping
con
duct
ed in
col
labo
ratio
n w
ith th
e D
epar
tmen
t of H
ealth
.
Surv
eilla
nce
activ
ities
to ta
rget
var
ious
pes
ts m
ay a
lso
diffe
r bet
wee
n re
gion
s. S
ome
of th
e di
fferin
g ap
proa
ches
ar
ise
from
low
er le
vels
of r
isk
asso
ciat
ed w
ith th
e va
rious
pes
ts in
eac
h lo
catio
n (A
sian
Gyp
sy M
oths
are
not
trap
ped
at D
arw
in p
ort,
for i
nsta
nce,
as
Dar
win
is n
ot a
ris
k po
rt d
ue to
the
inco
mpa
tible
env
ironm
ent)
or f
rom
low
er r
isks
as
soci
ated
with
the
part
icul
ar p
athw
ay(s
) spe
cific
to e
ach
loca
tion.
Stat
e de
part
men
ts o
f agr
icul
ture
and
/or h
ealth
als
o co
nduc
t sur
veill
ance
for a
var
iety
of o
rgan
ism
s, b
oth
in p
ort a
reas
an
d m
ore
broa
dly.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
has
pro
vide
d fu
ndin
g fo
r sta
te d
epar
tmen
ts
of a
gric
ultu
re to
del
iver
som
e of
thes
e ac
tiviti
es (f
or e
xam
ple,
a tr
appi
ng p
rogr
am fo
r Asi
an G
ypsy
Mot
h an
d ex
otic
fr
uit fl
ies
near
firs
t poi
nts
of e
ntry
). O
ngoi
ng li
aiso
n be
twee
n th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es a
nd
stat
e an
d te
rrito
ry a
genc
ies
resp
onsi
ble
for b
iose
curi
ty e
nsur
es e
ffect
ive
reso
urci
ng, t
rap
plac
emen
t and
redu
ctio
n in
dup
licat
ion.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
68 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
18:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
, and
the
hort
icul
ture
indu
stry
, on
esta
blis
hing
st
anda
rdis
ed la
belli
ng, w
eed
iden
tifica
tion,
an
d sa
les
trac
king
pro
toco
ls a
cros
s th
e in
dust
ry.
Supp
orte
d
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent s
uppo
rts
this
reco
mm
enda
tion,
not
ing
that
dom
estic
trad
e re
quire
men
ts a
re a
sta
te
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ent r
espo
nsib
ility
. The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent a
ctiv
ely
supp
orts
har
mon
isat
ion
of in
ters
tate
tr
ade
prot
ocol
s fo
r pla
nts
and
plan
t pro
duct
s th
roug
h a
subc
omm
ittee
of t
he n
atio
nal P
HC—
the
Subc
omm
ittee
on
Dom
estic
Qua
rant
ine
and
Mar
ket A
cces
s, w
hich
is th
e na
tiona
l gov
ernm
ent g
roup
with
resp
onsi
bilit
y fo
r int
erst
ate
trad
e ar
rang
emen
ts.
The
abili
ty to
app
ropr
iate
ly id
entif
y an
d tr
ace
hort
icul
tura
l pro
duct
s th
roug
h th
e su
pply
cha
in is
ess
entia
l. So
me
mec
hani
sms
alre
ady
exis
t and
are
inte
grat
ed in
to e
mer
genc
y re
spon
se a
rran
gem
ents
and
exi
stin
g pr
ogra
ms
such
as
the
Nur
sery
and
Gar
den
Indu
stry
Aus
tral
ia B
iose
cure
HA
CCP
(Haz
ard
Ana
lysi
s Cr
itica
l Con
trol
Poi
nt)
initi
ativ
e. T
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t will
con
tinue
to w
ork
with
oth
er g
over
nmen
ts a
nd in
dust
ry to
str
engt
hen
thes
e m
echa
nism
s.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent a
pplie
s an
inte
grat
ed n
atio
nal a
ppro
ach
to th
e pr
even
tion
and
man
agem
ent o
f iss
ues
asso
ciat
ed w
ith w
eeds
thro
ugh
its p
artic
ipat
ion
in th
e In
vasi
ve P
lant
s an
d A
nim
als
Com
mitt
ee (I
PAC)
. The
IPA
C ov
erse
es
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
Wee
ds o
f Nat
iona
l Sig
nific
ance
(W
oNS)
initi
ativ
e, th
e A
ustr
alia
n W
eeds
Str
ateg
y (A
WS)
and
th
e N
atio
nal I
nvas
ive
Plan
ts S
urve
illan
ce F
ram
ewor
k (N
IPSF
).
The
WoN
S in
itiat
ive
coor
dina
tes
natio
nal e
ffort
aga
inst
32
of A
ustr
alia
’s in
vasi
ve p
lant
s. It
ben
efits
Aus
tral
ia b
y in
crea
sing
ac
cess
ibili
ty to
wee
d in
form
atio
n an
d st
reng
then
ing
netw
orks
from
nat
iona
l to
loca
l lev
els
to in
crea
se th
e sh
arin
g of
in
form
atio
n, e
xper
ienc
es a
nd re
sour
ces
as w
ell a
s re
gula
tory
con
sist
ency
.
The
AWS
is th
e na
tiona
l str
ateg
y fo
r wee
d m
anag
emen
t in
Aus
tral
ia. F
ollo
win
g a
revi
ew o
f it i
n 20
12, a
new
wee
d st
rate
gy h
as b
een
deve
lope
d by
IPA
C an
d w
as e
ndor
sed
by N
BC o
n 7
June
20
17.
The
NIP
SF a
ims
to in
crea
se A
ustr
alia
’s p
ost b
orde
r cap
abili
ty fo
r ear
ly d
etec
tion
of, a
nd r
apid
resp
onse
to, n
ew in
vasi
ve
plan
t inc
ursi
ons
and
rang
e ex
pans
ions
of e
xist
ing
plan
ts. T
he IP
AC
is c
urre
ntly
dev
elop
ing
an im
plem
enta
tion
plan
for
the
NIP
SF.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent a
lso
wor
ks w
ith th
e A
tlas
of L
ivin
g A
ustr
alia
web
site
, whi
ch p
ublis
hes
wee
d in
form
atio
n an
d a
wee
d id
entifi
catio
n to
ol.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent i
s co
mm
itted
to w
orki
ng w
ith s
tate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
and
the
hort
icul
ture
indu
stry
to
har
mon
ise
wee
d id
entifi
catio
n an
d sa
les
trac
king
pro
toco
ls a
cros
s th
e in
dust
ry th
roug
h th
ese
initi
ativ
es.
–
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
69Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
19:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re re
view
and
, w
here
app
ropr
iate
, str
engt
hen
curr
ent
regu
latio
ns g
over
ning
pri
vate
avi
cultu
re
impo
rts,
giv
en th
e hi
gh r
ate
at w
hich
pr
ivat
ely
kept
bird
s es
cape
into
the
wild
.
Not
ed
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent r
egul
ates
the
inte
rnat
iona
l mov
emen
t of w
ildlif
e. L
egal
ly im
port
ed e
xotic
wild
life,
in
clud
ing
bird
s, a
re th
e re
spon
sibi
lity
of th
e re
leva
nt s
tate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
.
The
impo
rt o
f liv
e an
imal
s, s
uch
as e
xotic
bird
s, in
to A
ustr
alia
is c
ontr
olle
d un
der t
he B
iose
curi
ty A
ct, a
dmin
iste
red
by th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es a
nd th
e D
epar
tmen
t of H
ealth
, and
the
EPBC
Act
, ad
min
iste
red
by th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y ha
s re
spon
sibi
lity
for a
sses
sing
app
licat
ions
to a
men
d th
e Li
st o
f Sp
ecim
ens
take
n to
be
Suita
ble
for L
ive
Impo
rt (t
he L
ive
Impo
rt L
ist)
und
er th
e EP
BC A
ct to
incl
ude
a ne
w s
peci
es.
Each
new
ani
mal
spe
cies
pro
pose
d fo
r inc
lusi
on o
n th
e liv
e im
port
list
is th
e su
bjec
t of a
det
aile
d ris
k as
sess
men
t by
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y. T
his
asse
ssm
ent f
ocus
es o
n th
e po
tent
ial i
mpa
cts
on th
e A
ustr
alia
n en
viro
nmen
t of t
he o
rgan
ism
to b
e lis
ted.
To
appl
y fo
r any
ani
mal
spe
cim
ens
(exc
ludi
ng b
ioco
ntro
l age
nts)
to b
e in
clud
ed o
n th
e liv
e im
port
list
, the
app
lican
t mus
t sub
mit
a dr
aft a
sses
smen
t rep
ort t
hat a
ddre
sses
the
pote
ntia
l im
pact
s of
the
spec
ies
on th
e A
ustr
alia
n en
viro
nmen
t.
The
stan
dard
term
s of
refe
renc
e fo
r thi
s re
port
are
des
igne
d to
acc
ount
for A
ustr
alia
n co
nditi
ons.
The
y in
clud
e re
quire
men
ts fo
r inf
orm
atio
n re
gard
ing:
whe
ther
the
spec
ies
has
prev
ious
ly e
stab
lishe
d fe
ral p
opul
atio
ns a
nyw
here
in
the
wor
ld; a
ny p
revi
ous
risk
asse
ssm
ents
car
ried
out i
n A
ustr
alia
or o
vers
eas;
an
asse
ssm
ent o
f the
like
lihoo
d of
th
e sp
ecie
s es
tabl
ishi
ng a
bre
edin
g po
pula
tion
in A
ustr
alia
; the
pot
entia
l im
pact
s of
the
spec
ies
shou
ld it
bec
ome
esta
blis
hed
in A
ustr
alia
; and
rele
vant
sta
te/t
erri
tory
legi
slat
ive
cont
rols
. In
orde
r to
be e
ligib
le fo
r im
port
into
Aus
tral
ia,
a sp
ecie
s m
ust b
e lis
ted
on th
e Li
ve Im
port
Lis
t and
mee
t all
requ
irem
ents
rele
vant
to th
e Co
nven
tion
on In
tern
atio
nal
Trad
e in
End
ange
red
Spec
ies
of W
ild F
auna
and
Flo
ra (C
ITES
) und
er th
e EP
BC A
ct a
nd th
e bi
osec
urity
requ
irem
ents
set
ou
t und
er th
e Bi
osec
urity
Act
.
Curr
ent i
mpo
rt p
olic
ies
limit
the
impo
rt o
f liv
e bi
rds
to c
erta
in s
peci
es o
f pet
bird
s fr
om N
ew Z
eala
nd, p
rovi
ding
cur
rent
im
port
requ
irem
ents
are
fully
com
plie
d w
ith. O
nly
a sm
all n
umbe
r of b
irds
ente
r Aus
tral
ia th
is w
ay. B
etw
een
2012
and
20
15, 1
8 bi
rds
wer
e im
port
ed fr
om N
ew Z
eala
nd. O
n 2
May
20
16, t
he D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es
anno
unce
d a
revi
ew o
f the
bio
secu
rity
ris
ks a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith im
port
atio
n of
pet
and
non
-com
mer
cial
psi
ttac
ine
bird
s (p
arro
ts).
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent n
otes
that
man
y ex
otic
bird
spe
cies
are
bre
d in
Aus
tral
ia.
On
2 M
ay 2
016
, Agr
icul
ture
ann
ounc
ed a
re
view
of t
he b
iose
curi
ty r
isks
ass
ocia
ted
with
impo
rtat
ion
of p
et a
nd n
on-c
omm
erci
al
psitt
acin
e bi
rds
(par
rots
). In
Oct
ober
20
18
Agr
icul
ture
revi
sed
the
scop
e to
incl
ude
all a
viar
y (n
on–c
omm
erci
al, c
omm
erci
al a
nd z
oo) i
mpo
rts
of p
sitt
acin
e bi
rds.
The
dra
ft re
view
is a
ntic
ipat
ed
to b
e av
aila
ble
for c
omm
ent e
arly
20
19.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
20
:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re id
entif
y th
e pa
thw
ays
by w
hich
exo
tic b
irds
are
ente
ring
the
coun
try,
incl
udin
g ill
egal
pat
hway
s,
and
wor
k to
bet
ter r
egul
ate
or c
lose
th
ese
path
way
s.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
Ther
e ar
e in
itiat
ives
in p
lace
to id
entif
y th
e pa
thw
ays
by w
hich
exo
tic b
irds
ente
r the
cou
ntry
and
com
bat i
llega
l im
port
atio
n th
roug
h th
ose
path
way
s. T
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t is
com
mitt
ed to
con
tinui
ng to
regu
late
thes
e pa
thw
ays
acro
ss a
ran
ge o
f age
ncie
s.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f Im
mig
ratio
n an
d Bo
rder
Pro
tect
ion
is p
rimar
ily re
spon
sibl
e fo
r ide
ntif
ying
and
regu
latin
g ill
egal
pa
thw
ays
into
Aus
tral
ia s
uch
as s
mug
glin
g. T
his
incl
udes
the
illeg
al p
athw
ays
thro
ugh
whi
ch e
xotic
bird
s m
ight
ent
er
Aus
tral
ia. H
owev
er, t
he D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es a
ctiv
ely
targ
ets
the
illeg
al im
port
atio
n of
all
anim
als
into
Aus
tral
ia, i
nclu
ding
avi
an s
peci
es. I
nves
tigat
ions
and
inte
llige
nce
colle
ctio
n an
d sh
arin
g ar
e on
goin
g as
ar
e re
latio
nshi
ps w
ith o
ther
bor
der a
genc
ies
and
inte
rnat
iona
l par
tner
s. T
he s
mug
glin
g of
fert
ilise
d eg
gs is
als
o an
ar
ea o
f foc
us fo
r the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
and
wor
k on
iden
tifyi
ng p
athw
ays
and
high
ris
k in
divi
dual
s is
ong
oing
.
In a
dditi
on, t
he D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es d
evel
ops
impo
rt c
ondi
tions
to m
eet A
ustr
alia
’s
appr
opria
te le
vel o
f pro
tect
ion
(ALO
P), u
nder
whi
ch le
gal t
rade
in a
nim
als
and
thei
r pro
duct
s ca
n oc
cur.
As
prev
ious
ly m
entio
ned,
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
has
ann
ounc
ed a
revi
ew o
f the
bi
osec
urity
ris
ks a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith im
port
ing
pet a
nd n
on-c
omm
erci
al p
sitt
acin
e bi
rds
(par
rots
). It
has
been
pro
pose
d th
at
prov
idin
g fo
r man
aged
, leg
al im
port
s is
one
way
to re
duce
the
likel
ihoo
d an
d im
pact
s of
sm
uggl
ing.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y is
resp
onsi
ble
for i
mpl
emen
ting
Aus
tral
ia’s
obl
igat
ions
und
er C
ITES
. A
ustr
alia
is o
ne o
f 181
Par
ties
to C
ITES
that
coo
pera
te to
ens
ure
that
wild
spe
cies
, inc
ludi
ng a
num
ber o
f bird
spe
cies
lis
ted
in th
e co
nven
tion,
are
not
thre
aten
ed b
y in
tern
atio
nal t
rade
.
Ther
e ar
e in
itiat
ives
in p
lace
to id
entif
y th
e pa
thw
ays
by w
hich
exo
tic b
irds
ente
r the
co
untr
y an
d co
mba
t ille
gal i
mpo
rtat
ion
thro
ugh
thos
e pa
thw
ays.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
is c
omm
itted
to c
ontin
uing
to re
gula
te th
ese
path
way
s ac
ross
a r
ange
of a
genc
ies.
Agr
icul
ture
act
ivel
y ta
rget
s th
e ill
egal
impo
rtat
ion
of a
ll an
imal
s in
to A
ustr
alia
, inc
ludi
ng a
vian
sp
ecie
s. In
vest
igat
ions
and
inte
llige
nce
colle
ctio
n an
d sh
arin
g ar
e on
goin
g as
are
rela
tions
hips
with
ot
her b
orde
r age
ncie
s an
d in
tern
atio
nal p
artn
ers.
Th
e sm
uggl
ing
of fe
rtili
sed
eggs
is a
lso
an a
rea
of fo
cus
for A
gric
ultu
re a
nd w
ork
on id
entif
ying
pa
thw
ays
and
high
ris
k in
divi
dual
s is
ong
oing
.
Agr
icul
ture
has
ann
ounc
ed a
revi
ew o
f the
bi
osec
urity
ris
ks a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith im
port
ing
pet
and
non-
com
mer
cial
psi
ttac
ine
bird
s (p
arro
ts).
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
70 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
21:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re w
ork
with
re
leva
nt s
tate
and
terr
itory
age
ncie
s to
de
velo
p a
natio
nal d
atab
ase
of s
eize
d ex
otic
wild
life.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent s
uppo
rts,
in p
rinci
ple,
a n
umbe
r of t
he re
form
s th
at a
re b
eing
pro
gres
sed
unde
r Sc
hedu
le 3
of t
he IG
AB
to d
evel
op a
col
labo
rativ
e ap
proa
ch to
col
lect
ing,
col
latin
g, a
naly
sing
, sto
ring
and
shar
ing
bios
ecur
ity in
form
atio
n to
impr
ove
deci
sion
-mak
ing
and
enha
nce
effici
ency
of b
iose
curi
ty o
pera
tions
. How
ever
, a
sing
ular
dat
abas
e m
ay n
ot b
e pr
actic
able
.
The
IPA
C ha
s de
velo
ped
repo
rtin
g sy
stem
s to
sha
re in
form
atio
n be
twee
n th
e A
ustr
alia
n an
d st
ate
and
terr
itory
go
vern
men
ts o
n de
tect
ion
of n
ew p
est a
nim
als
incl
udin
g st
owaw
ay, s
mug
gled
, sei
zed,
esc
apes
/rel
ease
s an
d fie
ld
dete
ctio
ns. I
PAC
has
been
ann
ually
col
latin
g an
d sh
arin
g th
e de
tect
ion
data
bet
wee
n ju
risdi
ctio
ns fo
r ove
r five
yea
rs.
Ove
r tim
e, th
e na
tiona
l dat
aset
will
pro
vide
vita
l inf
orm
atio
n fo
r sci
entifi
c an
alys
is o
n tr
ends
in th
e ty
pe, l
ocat
ion,
pa
thw
ay a
nd p
ropa
gule
pre
ssur
e of
new
ver
tebr
ate
dete
ctio
ns a
t the
bor
der a
nd p
ost-
bord
er.
To im
prov
e tim
ely
data
sha
ring,
the
NBC
is d
evel
opin
g ag
reem
ents
for s
harin
g in
form
atio
n an
d th
e de
velo
pmen
t of
nat
iona
l bio
secu
rity
min
imum
dat
a se
ts to
faci
litat
e th
e ex
chan
ge o
f agr
eed
info
rmat
ion
betw
een
juris
dict
ions
as
a p
riori
ty u
nder
IGA
B. M
inim
um d
ata
sets
hav
e be
en d
raft
ed fo
r em
erge
ncy
resp
onse
and
sur
veill
ance
for
pest
s an
d di
seas
es.
The
Dep
artm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y cu
rren
tly m
aint
ains
a d
atab
ase
of e
xotic
wild
life,
sei
zed
unde
r Par
t 13
A o
f the
EPB
C A
ct. T
he D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy
wor
ks c
olla
bora
tivel
y w
ith th
e D
epar
tmen
t of
Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
to p
rovi
de in
form
atio
n on
sei
zed
exot
ic w
ildlif
e to
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry a
genc
ies.
Envi
ronm
ent w
orks
col
labo
rativ
ely
with
A
gric
ultu
re to
pro
vide
info
rmat
ion
on s
eize
d ex
otic
wild
life
to s
tate
and
terr
itory
age
ncie
s.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
22:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at,
follo
win
g th
e co
mpl
etio
n of
the
curr
ent
revi
ew o
f nat
iona
l mar
itim
e pe
st p
olic
y by
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
, the
Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent a
men
d bi
osec
urity
legi
slat
ion
to in
corp
orat
e a
natio
nal m
anda
tory
bio
foul
ing
man
agem
ent r
egim
e.
Not
ed
Dur
ing
the
rece
nt re
view
of N
atio
nal M
arin
e Pe
st B
iose
curi
ty a
rran
gem
ents
, the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
W
ater
Res
ourc
es re
leas
ed is
sue
and
disc
ussi
on p
aper
s an
d he
ld s
take
hold
er w
orks
hops
in e
ach
stat
e ca
pita
l city
. Th
roug
h th
ese
cons
ulta
tion
mec
hani
sms,
it e
xplo
red
stak
ehol
der v
iew
s on
the
need
for,
and
natu
re o
f, re
gula
tion
and
risk
man
agem
ent c
ontr
ols
of b
iofo
ulin
g on
ves
sels
.
The
revi
ew m
ade
a nu
mbe
r of r
ecom
men
datio
ns to
war
d a
new
focu
s on
pre
vent
ion
activ
ities
, suc
h as
bet
ter
rela
tions
hips
bet
wee
n re
sear
cher
s, m
arin
e-ba
sed
indu
strie
s, g
over
nmen
t and
the
com
mun
ity. I
t als
o re
com
men
ds th
e de
velo
pmen
t of s
tron
ger r
espo
nse
arra
ngem
ents
for d
ealin
g w
ith in
curs
ions
.
The
reco
mm
enda
tions
will
be
impl
emen
ted
over
20
15–1
8. Im
plem
enta
tion
will
invo
lve
wor
king
clo
sely
with
st
akeh
olde
rs to
str
engt
hen
natio
nal m
arin
e pe
st b
iose
curi
ty a
rran
gem
ents
to re
duce
ris
k of
mar
ine
pest
s fr
om
esta
blis
hing
in A
ustr
alia
n w
ater
s. T
he re
view
repo
rt a
nd re
com
men
datio
ns a
re a
vaila
ble
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of
Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
web
site
.
The
Bios
ecur
ity A
ct p
rovi
des
broa
d po
wer
s fo
r the
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent t
o as
sess
and
man
age
bios
ecur
ity r
isks
fo
r inc
omin
g ve
ssel
s. T
hese
pow
ers
are
flexi
ble
and
wou
ld e
nabl
e m
anag
emen
t of b
iofo
ulin
g.
Agr
icul
ture
is in
vest
igat
ing
regu
lato
ry o
ptio
ns
to m
anag
e bi
osec
urity
ris
ks a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith
biof
oulin
g on
ves
sels
arr
ivin
g in
Aus
tral
ian
terr
itory
. Agr
icul
ture
’s a
ctio
ns a
re c
onsi
sten
t w
ith th
e 20
15 R
evie
w o
f Nat
iona
l Mar
ine
Pest
Bi
osec
urity
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
act
ivity
1.3
of
the
Mar
ine
Pest
Pla
n 20
18–2
023.
Agr
icul
ture
is c
urre
ntly
dev
elop
ing
a co
nsul
tatio
n re
gula
tion
impa
ct s
tate
men
t tha
t will
pre
sent
po
licy
optio
ns fo
r the
man
agem
ent o
f ves
sels
ar
rivi
ng in
Aus
tral
ian
terr
itory
to m
inim
ise
unac
cept
able
bio
foul
ing
rela
ted
bios
ecur
ity
risk.
Agr
icul
ture
aim
s to
form
ally
eng
age
with
sta
keho
lder
s on
the
RIS
in M
arch
20
19.
Agr
icul
ture
is c
olla
bora
ting
with
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry
gove
rnm
ents
in d
evel
opin
g bi
ofou
ling
polic
y.
Agr
icul
ture
wor
ks c
lose
ly w
ith in
tern
atio
nal
part
ners
to p
rom
ote
inte
rnat
iona
l con
sist
ency
in
biof
oulin
g re
gula
tions
and
the
deve
lopm
ent o
f re
gula
tions
that
alig
n w
ith th
e di
rect
ion
set b
y th
e In
tern
atio
nal M
ariti
me
Org
aniz
atio
n (I
MO
). A
ustr
alia
, alo
ng w
ith N
ew Z
eala
nd, a
re le
adin
g in
IM
O in
itiat
ives
rela
ting
to b
iofo
ulin
g, in
clud
ing
the
revi
ew o
f the
IMO
Bio
foul
ing
Gui
delin
es
and
bein
g st
rate
gic
part
ners
in th
e G
loFo
ulin
g Pa
rtne
rshi
ps p
roje
ct.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
71Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
23:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re c
ondu
ct
mor
e re
gula
r shi
p in
spec
tions
targ
eted
at
bio
foul
ing.
Not
ed
The
rece
nt re
view
of N
atio
nal M
arin
e Pe
st B
iose
curi
ty a
rran
gem
ents
, exp
lore
d st
akeh
olde
r vie
ws
on th
e ne
ed fo
r, an
d na
ture
of,
regu
latio
n an
d ris
k m
anag
emen
t con
trol
s of
bio
foul
ing
on v
esse
ls.
The
revi
ew m
ade
a nu
mbe
r of r
ecom
men
datio
ns to
war
d a
new
focu
s on
pre
vent
ion
activ
ities
, suc
h as
bet
ter
rela
tions
hips
bet
wee
n re
sear
cher
s, m
arin
e-ba
sed
indu
strie
s, g
over
nmen
t and
the
com
mun
ity. I
t als
o re
com
men
ds th
e de
velo
pmen
t of s
tron
ger r
espo
nse
arra
ngem
ents
for d
ealin
g w
ith in
curs
ions
.
The
reco
mm
enda
tions
will
be
impl
emen
ted
over
20
15–1
8. Im
plem
enta
tion
will
invo
lve
wor
king
clo
sely
with
sta
keho
lder
s to
str
engt
hen
natio
nal m
arin
e pe
st b
iose
curi
ty a
rran
gem
ents
to re
duce
ris
k of
mar
ine
pest
s fr
om e
stab
lishi
ng in
A
ustr
alia
n w
ater
s. T
he re
view
repo
rt a
nd re
com
men
datio
ns a
re a
vaila
ble
at w
ww
.agr
icul
ture
.gov
.au.
As
part
of t
he b
iofo
ulin
g po
licy
deve
lopm
ent
proc
ess,
Agr
icul
ture
is d
evel
opin
g po
licie
s to
va
lidat
e co
mpl
ianc
e w
ith th
e pr
opos
ed m
anda
tory
re
quire
men
ts to
ens
ure
vess
els
are
targ
eted
for
insp
ectio
n ap
prop
riate
ly. A
gric
ultu
re is
ass
essi
ng
the
feas
ibili
ty a
nd s
cope
of a
men
dmen
ts to
the
Bios
ecur
ity R
egul
atio
n 20
15 a
nd th
e M
ariti
me
Arr
ival
s Re
port
ing
Syst
em (M
AR
S) to
ena
ble
Agr
icul
ture
to ta
rget
hig
h ris
k ve
ssel
s fo
r in
spec
tion
usin
g in
form
atio
n pr
ovid
ed th
roug
h pr
e-ar
riva
l rep
orts
.
Rec
omm
enda
tion
24
:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
to e
stab
lish
a na
tiona
l mon
itorin
g an
d da
ta s
harin
g re
gim
e fo
r fre
shw
ater
fish
incu
rsio
ns.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
Fres
hwat
er fi
sh in
curs
ions
requ
ires
co-o
pera
tion
betw
een
all l
evel
s of
gov
ernm
ent t
o m
onito
r, no
ting
that
ther
e ar
e a
rang
e of
diffi
culti
es in
col
lect
ing
data
at t
he s
peci
es le
vel f
or fi
sh im
port
s. T
he A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t will
wor
k w
ith
stat
e an
d te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts to
con
side
r the
pos
sibi
lity
of e
stab
lishi
ng a
nat
iona
l mon
itorin
g an
d da
ta s
harin
g re
gim
e fo
r fre
shw
ater
fish
incu
rsio
ns, n
otin
g th
ere
are
rela
ted
initi
ativ
es c
urre
ntly
und
erw
ay th
at w
ould
ach
ieve
this
out
com
e.
Und
er S
ched
ule
3 of
the
IGA
B, a
num
ber o
f ref
orm
s ar
e be
ing
prog
ress
ed to
faci
litat
e a
colla
bora
tive
appr
oach
to
colle
ctin
g, c
olla
ting,
ana
lysi
ng, s
torin
g an
d sh
arin
g bi
osec
urity
info
rmat
ion
to im
prov
e de
cisi
on-m
akin
g an
d en
hanc
e effi
cien
cy o
f bio
secu
rity
ope
ratio
ns. I
PAC
is p
rom
otin
g th
e m
aint
enan
ce o
f a n
atio
nal f
resh
wat
er fi
sh li
st fo
r spe
cies
th
at a
re id
entifi
ed a
s no
xiou
s ac
ross
juris
dict
ions
and
is d
evel
opin
g a
natio
nally
agr
eed
risk
asse
ssm
ent m
etho
dolo
gy
to a
sses
s sp
ecie
s w
hose
pot
entia
l is
not y
et k
now
n an
d ha
ve y
et to
be
asse
ssed
. It i
s al
so d
evel
opin
g a
com
mun
icat
ion
stra
tegy
to r
aise
aw
aren
ess
in th
e co
mm
unity
and
indu
stry
abo
ut th
e m
anag
emen
t, co
ntro
l and
regu
latio
n of
or
nam
enta
l fish
, as
wel
l as
rais
ing
awar
enes
s of
pes
t fish
and
thei
r man
agem
ent w
ith k
ey s
take
hold
ers.
–
Rec
omm
enda
tion
25:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re im
prov
e bo
rder
su
rvei
llanc
e of
fres
hwat
er fi
sh im
port
s,
revi
ew th
e re
leva
nce
of it
s ris
k as
sess
men
ts
for A
ustr
alia
n co
nditi
ons
and
impl
emen
t as
soon
as
prac
ticab
le th
e on
-arr
ival
fish
hea
lth
mon
itorin
g pr
ogra
m.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
The
impo
rt o
f liv
e an
imal
s, s
uch
as fi
sh, i
nto
Aus
tral
ia is
regu
late
d by
a n
umbe
r of a
genc
ies
unde
r the
Bio
secu
rity
Act
, ad
min
iste
red
by th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es a
nd th
e D
epar
tmen
t of H
ealth
, and
the
EPBC
Act
, ad
min
iste
red
by th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t and
Ene
rgy.
An
impo
rt p
erm
it is
requ
ired
to im
port
live
orn
amen
tal
fish
to A
ustr
alia
. Onl
y ce
rtai
n pe
rmitt
ed s
peci
es m
ay b
e im
port
ed fr
om a
ppro
ved
coun
trie
s. T
he li
ve fi
sh im
port
co
nditi
ons,
incl
udin
g th
e lis
t of p
erm
itted
spe
cies
and
app
rove
d co
untr
ies,
is s
peci
fied
in th
e D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
Bio
secu
rity
Impo
rt C
ondi
tions
sys
tem
(BIC
ON
).
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent w
ill w
ork
with
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts to
con
side
r the
pos
sibi
lity
of e
stab
lishi
ng a
na
tiona
l mon
itorin
g an
d da
ta s
harin
g re
gim
e fo
r fre
shw
ater
fish
incu
rsio
ns a
s di
scus
sed
unde
r rec
omm
enda
tion
24.
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent,
thro
ugh
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
, is
impl
emen
ting
the
orna
men
tal fi
sh im
port
ris
k re
form
pro
ject
, whi
ch is
aim
ed a
t im
prov
ing
the
depa
rtm
ent’s
cap
acity
to c
ondu
ct o
n-ar
riva
l di
seas
e su
rvei
llanc
e of
fres
hwat
er a
nd m
arin
e or
nam
enta
l fish
spe
cies
impo
rted
into
Aus
tral
ia. C
urre
nt a
ppro
ache
s fo
r bo
rder
sur
veill
ance
of f
resh
wat
er fi
sh im
port
s ar
e be
ing
stre
ngth
ened
to m
anag
e ris
ks a
ssoc
iate
d w
ith a
sym
ptom
atic
di
seas
es o
f bio
secu
rity
con
cern
(for
exa
mpl
e, ir
idov
irus)
.
On
1 M
arch
20
16, t
he D
epar
tmen
t of A
gric
ultu
re a
nd W
ater
Res
ourc
es im
plem
ente
d ne
w p
re-e
xpor
t irid
oviru
s fr
ee
cert
ifica
tion
requ
irem
ents
for i
mpo
rted
fres
hwat
er o
rnam
enta
l fish
that
bel
ong
to th
e go
uram
i, ci
chlid
and
poe
cilii
d gr
oups
. It r
ecen
tly c
ondu
cted
four
on-
arri
val s
urve
illan
ce tr
ials
as
part
of t
he re
form
pro
ject
. The
pur
pose
of t
he tr
ials
w
ere
to:
• id
entif
y ke
y bi
osec
urity
ris
k pa
thw
ays
for i
ridov
iruse
s
• te
st th
e op
erat
iona
l fea
sibi
lity
of, a
nd m
ake
appr
opria
te c
hang
es to
, the
fish
hea
lth s
urve
illan
ce a
nd p
athw
ay a
naly
sis
syst
em p
rior t
o fu
ll im
plem
enta
tion.
The
test
resu
lts o
f the
tria
ls h
ave
been
pro
vide
d to
the
rele
vant
ove
rsea
s co
mpe
tent
aut
hori
ties
of a
ppro
ved
expo
rtin
g co
untr
ies
to h
elp
them
targ
et th
e hi
ghes
t ris
k ar
eas
of th
eir f
resh
wat
er o
rnam
enta
l fish
exp
ort i
ndus
try.
Res
ults
hav
e al
so b
een
prov
ided
to im
port
ers
to h
elp
them
sou
rce
fish
free
of i
ridov
irus.
On
1 M
arch
20
16, A
gric
ultu
re im
plem
ente
d ne
w p
re-e
xpor
t irid
oviru
s fr
ee c
ertifi
catio
n re
quire
men
ts fo
r im
port
ed fr
eshw
ater
orn
amen
tal
fish
that
bel
ong
to th
e go
uram
i, ci
chlid
and
po
ecili
id g
roup
s. It
rece
ntly
con
duct
ed fo
ur
on-a
rriv
al s
urve
illan
ce tr
ials
as
part
of t
he
refo
rm p
roje
ct.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
72 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TAB
LE B
1 A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t res
pons
e to
Sen
ate
inqu
iry
reco
mm
enda
tions
and
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
to F
ebru
ary
2019
Sena
te in
quir
y re
com
men
dati
ons
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent
resp
onse
Agr
icul
ture
act
ions
Rec
omm
enda
tion
26:
The
com
mitt
ee re
com
men
ds th
at th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent w
ork
with
sta
te
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
to e
stab
lish
a na
tiona
l fra
mew
ork
for m
anag
ing
bios
ecur
ity
on A
ustr
alia
’s is
land
s.
Supp
orte
d in
pri
ncip
le
The
Aus
tral
ian
Gov
ernm
ent c
onsi
ders
that
it is
mor
e eff
ectiv
e to
str
engt
hen
man
agem
ent o
f bio
secu
rity
on
Aus
tral
ia’s
is
land
s w
ithin
the
exis
ting
bios
ecur
ity fr
amew
ork,
rat
her t
han
crea
ting
an a
dditi
onal
fram
ewor
k fo
r thi
s pu
rpos
e.
Regu
latio
n of
the
mov
emen
t of p
ests
and
dis
ease
s be
twee
n A
ustr
alia
’s is
land
s, a
nd m
anag
emen
t of e
stab
lishe
d pe
sts
and
dise
ases
on
Aus
tral
ia’s
isla
nds,
is p
rimar
ily th
e re
spon
sibi
lity
of th
e st
ates
and
terr
itorie
s (e
xcep
t for
the
isla
nds
that
ar
e un
der C
omm
onw
ealth
con
trol
). Th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t con
trib
utes
to b
iose
curi
ty a
ctiv
ities
with
in A
ustr
alia
, in
par
tner
ship
with
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts, i
ndus
try
and
othe
r sta
keho
lder
s w
here
ther
e is
a d
isce
rnib
le
natio
nal i
nter
est.
The
Aus
tral
ian,
sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts a
re w
orki
ng th
roug
h th
e N
BC to
impr
ove
how
the
effec
ts o
f es
tabl
ishe
d pe
sts
and
dise
ases
of n
atio
nal s
igni
fican
ce o
n A
ustr
alia
’s e
cono
my,
env
ironm
ent a
nd w
ay o
f life
are
m
anag
ed. T
his
wor
k w
ould
als
o be
rele
vant
for b
iose
curi
ty m
anag
emen
t on
isla
nds.
In Ju
ly 2
016
, the
NBC
end
orse
d th
e N
atio
nal F
ram
ewor
k fo
r the
Man
agem
ent o
f Est
ablis
hed
Pest
s an
d D
isea
ses
of
Nat
iona
l Sig
nific
ance
, whi
ch w
as a
key
del
iver
able
und
er S
ched
ule
5 of
the
IGA
B. T
he fr
amew
ork
outli
nes
a ne
w
appr
oach
to m
anag
ing
wee
ds, p
est a
nim
als,
pla
nt a
nd a
nim
al p
est o
r dis
ease
s th
at b
ecom
e es
tabl
ishe
d in
Aus
tral
ia
and
have
a s
igni
fican
t im
pact
at t
he n
atio
nal l
evel
. It p
rovi
des
for:
• ac
tiviti
es to
be
unde
rtak
en b
y th
e m
ost a
ppro
pria
te p
arty
• ap
prop
riate
prio
ritis
atio
n of
EPD
NS
base
d on
ris
k
• eff
ort t
o be
targ
eted
whe
re th
e gr
eate
st b
iose
curi
ty o
utco
mes
can
be
achi
eved
in th
e na
tiona
l int
eres
t
• in
vest
men
t ret
urn
to b
e op
timis
ed
• ad
optio
n of
nat
iona
l inv
estm
ent p
rinci
ples
invo
lvin
g be
nefic
iarie
s an
d ris
k cr
eato
rs
• m
inim
isat
ion
of re
gula
tory
bur
dens
ass
ocia
ted
with
con
tain
men
t of e
stab
lishe
d pe
sts
and
dise
ases
.
In a
dditi
on to
this
wor
k, th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t has
com
mitt
ed $
50 m
illio
n ov
er fo
ur y
ears
und
er th
e A
gric
ultu
ral
Com
petit
iven
ess
Whi
te P
aper
to im
prov
e th
e w
ay e
stab
lishe
d pe
st a
nim
als
and
wee
ds a
re m
anag
ed.
Furt
her,
a ke
y ac
tion
area
in th
e A
ustr
alia
n G
over
nmen
t’s T
hrea
tene
d Sp
ecie
s St
rate
gy is
to e
stab
lish
safe
hav
ens
for s
peci
es m
ost a
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.
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
73Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
In May 2015 the Senate Environment and Communications References Committee released a report on Environmental biosecurity. The Australian Greens also provided a Minority Report as an annexure. In June 2017 the Australian Government responded to recommendations in the Minority Report and the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (Agriculture) initiated actions in response.
TABLE B2 Australian Government response to Australian Greens recommendations and Agriculture actions to October 2018
Australian Greens recommendations Australian Government response Agriculture actions
Recommendation 1:
The Australian Greens recommend that the government establish and resource the proposed Environment Health Australia that can act as the key body for environment health in the same manner as Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia, and that this body establish a partnership between community, governments and environmental businesses in order to deliver high priority policy and planning in environmental biosecurity.
Not supported
The Australian Government agrees with the Committee’s (majority) conclusion that the establishment of a new body along the lines suggested in the Environment Health Australia proposal would not be the best use of the limited resources available for biosecurity measures.
The Australian Government considers a more effective approach is to continue to integrate environmental issues into existing governance structures, functions and activities and to strengthen collaboration and consultation with relevant stakeholders, including community members. This approach builds on already strong arrangements through the NBC, its sectoral committees and other relevant organisations, rather than creating a separate system.
–
Recommendation 2:
The Australian Greens recommend that the federal government fund Environment Health Australia on an equal footing with Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia and at a minimum level of $20 million over 5 years, with co-contribution from State and Territory governments of at least $10 million over 5 years. This funding must not come out of existing funding for biosecurity measures.
Not supported
See Australian Government response to Recommendation 1.
–
Recommendation 3:
The newly-established Environment Health Australia should, through a transparent, scientific process, identify and rank Australia's priority environmental biosecurity threats. Undertake pathway analysis of these high priority threats to identify where biosecurity should be focused.
Not supported
See Australian Government response to Recommendation 1.
–
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
74 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE B2 Australian Government response to Australian Greens recommendations and Agriculture actions to October 2018
Australian Greens recommendations Australian Government response Agriculture actions
Recommendation 4:
The newly-established Environment Health Australia should develop a timetable for bringing environmental biosecurity planning up to the level achieved for plant and animal industries.
Not supported
See Australian Government response to Recommendation 1.
–
Recommendation 5:
The newly-established Environment Health Australia should, within3 years, develop contingency plans for 30 high priority environmental pests.
Not supported
See Australian Government response to Recommendation 1.
–
Recommendation 6:
The newly-established Environment Health Australia should establish an independent expert panel to review recent incursions and to recommend ongoing responses to those incursions and reforms to reduce the risks of future incursions. An immediate priority should be to review whether smooth newts are eradicable.
Not supported
See Australian Government response to Recommendation 1.
–
Recommendation 7:
The Australian Greens recommend that the federal government implement the key recommendations of the Beale Review, in particular the creation of a separate Biosecurity Agency, with a Director that is separate from the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture.
Not supported
The Australian Government has implemented many of the key recommendations of the Beale Review and is committed to support the delivery of effective and efficient biosecurity services as a core function of the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.
The Australian Government does not consider it necessary to create a separate Biosecurity Agency. The Biosecurity Act provides a strong decision-making framework with explicit statutory requirements for the Director of Biosecurity. This includes section 541 of the Act, which provides that, in performing functions or exercising powers under the Act, the Director of Biosecurity must have regard to the objects of the Act.
–
Responses to Senate inquiry on Environmental Biosecurity recommendations
75Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE B2 Australian Government response to Australian Greens recommendations and Agriculture actions to October 2018
Australian Greens recommendations Australian Government response Agriculture actions
Recommendation 8:
The Queensland or federal governments should urgently allocate at least $1.3 million per year for at least 10 years towards the eradication program for yellow crazy ants before more time is lost to delay.
Partially supported
The Australian Government has committed $8.8 million over three years to tackle yellow crazy ants in Far North Queensland. This comprises $7.5 million for action within and adjacent to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area and $1.3 million to build skills and capabilities among farmers and landholders to assist with control of tramp ants such as yellow crazy ants.
In addition to this new funding, funding from the Green Army Program has supported ten teams contributing to addressing the problem of yellow crazy ants, including the use of bait stations to control yellow crazy ants next to the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. The Queensland Government has also committed $3 million over three years to the program. The Australian Government will seek an additional $4.5 million from the Queensland Government as matching funding.
The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $11.8 million over three years. (Commonwealth $8.8 million, which includes $7.5 million for eradication and $1.3 million for extension, and Queensland $3.01 million).
76 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia76 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Appendix C
Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity
On 29 November 2018 the Australian agriculture ministers supported the 42 recommendations in the IGAB report (Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017). Several of these recommendations directly or indirectly relate to environmental biosecurity that have either already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.
TABLE C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019
IGAB recommendations Agriculture actions
Recommendation 7:
Jurisdictions should institute formal arrangements between agriculture and environment agencies, including through memoranda of understanding, to define the objectives of cooperation, leading and support roles, information flows, resources and deliverables.
Agriculture will progress a memorandum of understanding or other appropriate arrangements with the Department of the Environment and Energy. The Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer will be responsible for progressing these arrangements.
Recommendation 8:
Jurisdictions should make clearer commitments to environmental biosecurity within IGAB2, including in relation to:
• a clear definition of environmental biosecurity such as that proposed by this review
• the principle of ecologically sustainable development
• acknowledgement of Australia’s international responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity program of work to determine, plan and prepare for national priority pests and diseases impacting on the community, environment and native species
• a focus on environment and community as well as industry partnerships
• diseases transmitted to humans by invertebrates as well as vertebrates.
Agriculture coordinated a revised Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. Agriculture Ministers have signed the revised agreement by in February 2019.
Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity
77Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019
IGAB recommendations Agriculture actions
Recommendation 9:
The Australian Government should establish the senior, expert position of Chief Community and Environmental Biosecurity Officer within the environment department. A far less preferred alternative is to house the position in the agriculture department.
Agriculture established the position of Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer.
Recommendation 10:
The NBC should establish a new Community and Environmental Biosecurity Committee (CEBC) to support the role of the Chief Community and Environmental Biosecurity Officer. The CEBC should comprise government and external community and environmental biosecurity experts and representatives from both the animal and plant sectoral committees of the NBC. The role of the CEBC should be reviewed following its work to prioritise national biosecurity risks impacting on the environment and social amenity (Recommendation 11).
Agriculture supported and helped lead the establishment of the new Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC) and provides secretariat support for this committee. The EIC replaces the Invasive Plants and Animals Committee, but has a greater focus on environmental biosecurity issues. The CEBO will chair this committee.
Recommendation 11:
The NBC should adopt a systematic approach to determine and plan for national priority pests and diseases:
• Three national priority lists—one each for animal, plant and environmental pests and diseases—should be developed in partnership with system participants.
• The three national lists should be completed by 2020.
• Thereafter, the NBC should lead reviews of the national priority lists at least every five years, reporting to AGSOC and AGMIN.
Priority lists have been established for animals and plants. Agriculture is leading work on development of a priority list for environmental pests of concern. NBC is expected to endorse this list in mid-2019.
In July 2017, the department commenced the development of a national priority list of exotic environmental pests and diseases. Public consultation on the priority list is expected inmid-2019, with the final list to be available by the end of 2019. Agriculture already maintains priority plant and animal lists and will continue to do so. The plant list is reviewed biennially or as new information becomes available. A review process for the plant list has recently been initiated, with an expected completion date of June 2019.
Recommendation 12:
The Australian Government should assign lead responsibility for driving and coordinating implementation of the National Environment and Community Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy 2016–19 to the Australian Government environment department.
The NBC has agreed that the Centre for Invasive Species Solutions will coordinate implementation of this strategy, with oversight being provided by the Environment and Invasives Committee, which includes representatives from Agriculture and Environment.
Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity
78 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019
IGAB recommendations Agriculture actions
Recommendation 13:
The NBC should authorise and drive development of an agreed set of National Biosecurity R&I Priorities, in consultation with key biosecurity R&I system participants, to guide national R&I investment:
• The sectoral committees of the NBC should lead the development of sectoral and cross-sectoral level national priorities in line with the national priority exotic animal, plant and environmental risks and their pathways, once agreed.
• The NBC, CSIRO, CEBRA and ABARES should jointly develop system-level national biosecurity priorities (including for the environment) focusing on the policy and decision-making frameworks, tools, innovations and behavioural changes needed to build an effective national system.
• The NBC should determine the final integrated list of National Biosecurity R&I Priorities. The priorities should be developed within eighteen months of the IGAB review report, and should be reviewed at least every five years.
–
Recommendation 14:
To accelerate national system innovation the Australian Government should:
• establish a $25 million National Biosecurity Innovation Program to enable strategic co-investment in the system-level (including environmental) national priorities developed under Recommendation 13. The program should be funded initially for a five-year period from 2018–19 through the funding mechanisms in Chapter 8 and be administered by the Australian Government agriculture department
• increase the funding appropriation to the Rural Industries RDC by $2 million annually for a new cross-sectoral biosecurity R&I coordination and investment function for the RDCs. Cross-sectoral investments should be in line with the national cross-sectoral priorities developed under Recommendation 13
• require RDCs to invest in and report against the new National Biosecurity R&I Priorities through additional provisions in each RDC statutory funding agreement. Cross-sectoral biosecurity R&I will be coordinated by the Rural Industries RDC.
On 29 June 2018 the Australian Government announced the establishment of a $25.2 million Biosecurity Innovation Program.
Agriculture is working to establish the Biosecurity Innovation Program, which was announced on 29 June 2018. The program will cost $25.2 million over five years. Agriculture is working with RDCs on progress against the national rural research and development priorities.
Responses to IGAB review recommendations on environmental biosecurity
79Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE C1 IGAB recommendations and Agriculture actions to February 2019
IGAB recommendations Agriculture actions
Recommendation 34:
Funding for the national biosecurity system should be increased by:
• implementing a per-container levy on incoming shipping containers of $10 per twenty-foot equivalent unit and a levy of $5 on incoming air containers, effective from 1 July 2019
• increasing the Passenger Movement Charge by $5, effective from 1 July 2022, with the revenue generated hypothecated to the Australian Government agriculture department for use nationally to enhance activities across Australia’s biosecurity system
• more widespread implementation by states and territories of land-based levies, with each jurisdiction to determine the magnitude of a levy based on its circumstances, but to include properties at least two hectares or greater.
The revenue raised by these mechanisms should be directed to those areas of the national biosecurity system that are currently most underfunded, with a priority for strengthening environmental biosecurity activities, national monitoring and surveillance activities, R&I and national communications and awareness activities.
–
Recommendation 37:
The emergency response deeds for aquatic animals and exotic production weeds should be finalised within eighteen months of the IGAB review report.
The NBC, through the aquatic deed working group and the exotic weed taskforce, is continuing to progress the development of national arrangements for rapid response to aquatic emergency animal disease outbreaks (Aquatic deed) and exotic production weeds (Weed deed). A complete draft of the Aquatic Deed is now available. Government and aquatic animal industries have been consulted regularly throughout its development. A draft of the Weed deed is expected to be developed in 2019.The emergency response funding announced on29 June 2018 will increase Agriculture’s response budget to meet deed responsibilities under new and current deeds.
AGMiN Agriculture Ministers Forum. Agriculture Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. AGSOC Agriculture Senior Officials committee. CEBC Community and Environment Biosecurity Committee. iGAB Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. iGAB2: Revised Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity. NBC National Biosecurity Committee. NEBRA National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement. Source: Craik, Palmer & Sheldrake 2017
80 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia80 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Appendix D
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
TABLE D1 International agreements on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Convention on Biological Diversity Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments (The Ballast Water Management Convention)
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
International Plant Protection Convention Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
International Maritime Organisation Convention Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Commonwealth/Australian Maritime Safety Authority
World Organisation for Animal Health Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Memorandum of Understanding with PNG and Timor-Leste and Subsidiary Agreement with Indonesia
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
81Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D2 Intergovernmental agreements on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity All jurisdictionsNational Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement All jurisdictionsIntergovernmental Agreement on the Environment All jurisdictionsHeads of agreement on Commonwealth and state and territory roles and responsibilities for the Environment
All jurisdictions
Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement All jurisdictionsEmergency Plant Pest Response Deed All jurisdictionsNational System for the Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions
All jurisdictions
ACT/NSW Biosecurity Memorandum of Understanding ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate, NSW/Department of Primary Industries
WA Memorandum of Understanding Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Western Australia/Forests Products Commission
TABLE D3 National, state and territory legislation on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Biosecurity Act 2015 (and regulations and notices)
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Biological Control Act 1984 (and regulations and notices)
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals (Administration) Act 1992 and Agricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Code Act 1994 (and regulations and notices)
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Commonwealth/Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority
Natural Heritage Trust of Australia ACT 1997
Commonwealth/Department of the Energy and Environment
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesFisheries Management Act 1991 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Commonwealth/Australian Fisheries Management AuthorityImported Food Control Act 1992 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesEnvironment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (and Regulations 2000)
Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Environment Protection and Management Ordinance 1987 (made pursuant to the Heard Island and McDonald Islands Act 1953)
Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980
Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981
Commonwealth/ Department of the Environment and Energy
Local Government Act Shire of Christmas Island Cats Local Law 2010
Local Government/Shire of Christmas Island
Fisheries Management Act 2007 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
82 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D3 National, state and territory legislation on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Natural Resources Management Act 2004 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesAquaculture Act 2001 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SAEnvironment Protection Act 1999 South Australia/Environment Protection AuthorityBiological Control Act 1986 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SAAgricultural and Veterinary Chemicals Act 1994
South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA
Livestock Act 1997 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SANational Parks and Wildlife Act 1972 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesMarine Parks Act 2007 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesAnimal Welfare Act 1985 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesDog and Cat Management Act 1995 South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural ResourcesPlant Health Act 2009 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SABiological Control Act 1986 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentWeed Management Act 1999 and Weed Management Regulations 2000
Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
Nature Conservation Act 2002 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentWildlife (Exhibited Animals) Regulations 2010 and the Wildlife (General) Regulations 2010
Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
Vermin Control Act 2000 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentCat Management Act 2009 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentLiving Marine Resources Management Act 1995
Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
Inland Fisheries Act 1995 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & EnvironmentBiosecurity Act 2015 (and regulations), Biosecurity Order (Permitted Activities) 2017 and supporting policies and procedures
New South Wales/Department of Primary Industries
Biological Control Act 1985 New South Wales/Department of Primary IndustriesState Emergency Rescue Management Act 1989
New South Wales/Department of Primary Industries
Local Land services Act 2015 New South Wales/Local Land Services
New South Wales/Department of Primary IndustriesBiodiversity Conservation Act 2016 New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageNational Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageEnvironmental Trust Act 1998 New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageBiological Control Act 1986 Northern Territory/Department of Primary Industry and ResourcesPlant Health Act 2008; Plant Health Regulations 2011
Northern Territory/Department of Primary Industry and Resources
Weeds Management Act 2001 Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesTerritory Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1977
Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Livestock Act 2008 Northern Territory/Department of Primary Industry and ResourcesAnimal Diseases Act 2005 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectoratePlant Diseases Act 2002 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectoratePest Plant and Animals Act 2005 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateNature Conservation Act 2014 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateBiosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
83Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D3 National, state and territory legislation on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Biological Control Act 1986 Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Fish Resources Management Act 1994 and Regulations 1995
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Aquatic Resource Management Act 2016 and Regulations 1995
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Pearling Act 1990 and Regulations Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Exotic Diseases of Animals Act 1993 and Regulations
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and AttractionsConservation and Land Management Act 1984 and supporting regulations and Forest Management Regulations 1993
Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Western Australia/Forest Products Commission
Biosecurity Act 2014 (and regulations and notices)
Queensland/Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Biological Control Act 1987 Queensland/Department of Agriculture and FisheriesExhibited Animals Act 2015, section 17 Queensland/Department of Agriculture and FisheriesNature Conservation Act 1992 (and regulations and notices)
Queensland/Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Conservation Forests and Lands Act 1987 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningCatchment and Land Protection Act 1994 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Biological Control Act 1986 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Domestic Animals Act 1994 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningWildlife Act 1975 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Agriculture and Veterinary Chemicals (Control of use) Act 1992
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Fisheries Act 1995 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Environment Protection Act 1970 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningNational Parks Act 1975 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Victoria/Parks VictoriaPrevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport
and ResourcesEmergency Management Act 2013 Victoria/Emergency Management VictoriaGame Management Authority Act 2014 Victoria/Game Management AuthorityForests Act 1958 Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningPort Management Act 1995 and Marine Safety Act 2010
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
84 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
AQUAPLAN 2014–2019 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesAustralian Aquatic Veterinary Emergency Plan (AQUAVETPLAN)
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN)
Animal Health Australia
Australian Pest Animal Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Guidelines for the Import, Movement and Keeping of Non-Indigenous Vertebrate Animals in Australia
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Australian Weeds Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Biosecurity Compliance Statement Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesBiosecurity Incident Management System Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesBiodiversity Conservation Strategy Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and EnergyBiosecurity Risk Management Operating Model
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Critical Incident Response Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Biosecurity Response Team Arrangements 2017–2019
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources/Animal Health Australia/Plant Health Australia
Engagement and communication strategy for consulting with community and environmental stakeholders
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Emergency Marine Pest Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesMarine Pest Plan 2017–2022 Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Animal Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy
Animal Health Australia/Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Strategy
National Animal Health Surveillance and Diagnostics Business Plan 2016–19
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Diagnostic Protocols Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Environment and Community Research, development and Extension Strategy
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Framework for Management of Established Pests and Diseases of National Significance
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Plant Biosecurity Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Strategy
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Plant Biosecurity Research, Development and Extension Strategy
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
85Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
National Primary Industries Research, Development and Extension Framework and strategies developed under this framework
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Surveillance and Diagnostics Framework
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Wild Dog Action Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources/Invasive Animals CRC
The Science Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesRural Research and Development Priorities
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
The Country Action List Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesThe National List of Notifiable Animal Diseases
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Australian Priority Marine Pests List Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesThe National List of Notifiable Aquatic Animal Diseases
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
National Priority Plant Pests List Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesWeeds of National Significance Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water
Resources Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and EnergyNational Ornamental Fish Strategy Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational RD&E Invasive Species Plan Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water ResourcesNational System for Prevention and Management of Marine Pest Incursions
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Northern Australia Quarantine Strategy Target Lists
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
List of specimens taken to be suitable for live import, 2001
Commonwealth/Department of Agriculture and Water Resources
Threat Abatement Plans for key threatening processes established under under the EPBC Act
Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
National incursion prevention and response strategy for potentially invasive animals 2017–2022 (in draft)
Invasive Plant and Animal Committee/Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
National incursion response plan for terrestrial snakes 2016
Invasive Plant and Animal Committee/Centre for Invasive Species Solutions
List of exotic vertebrate animals in Australia 2007
Invasive Plant and Animal Committee Incursion Expert Group
Booderee National Park Management Pan 2015–2025
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Christmas Island National Park Management Plan 2014–2024
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Kakadu National Park Plan of Management 2016–2026
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Norfolk Island National Park and Norfolk Island Botanic Garden Management Plan 2008–2018
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
86 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Pulu Keeling National Park Management Plan 2015–2025
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
South-east Commonwealth Marine Reserves Network Management Plan 2013–2023
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park Management Plan 2010–2020
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Heard Island and McDonald Islands Marine Reserve Management Plan 2014–2024
Commonwealth/Department of the Environment and Energy
Kakadu National Park Feral Animal Management Strategy 2006–2016
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
Kakadu National Park Weeds Strategy 2004–14 (new draft in progress)
Commonwealth/Director of National Parks
State Natural Resources Management Plan 2012–2017
South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
National Noxious Fish List South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SAState Biosecurity Policy 2017–2021 South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SASA State Buffel Grass Strategic Plan 2012–2017
South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA
State Opuntioid Cacti Management Plan South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SASouth Australian Myrtle Rust Contingency Plan
South Australia/Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources
South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SASouth Australian Tramp Ants Policy Discussion Paper
South Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regions SA
Policy and procedures for the import, movement and keeping of vertebrate wildlife in Tasmania
Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
Importing and Keeping Birds in Tasmania Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
Tasmanian Biosecurity Strategy 2013–2017 Tasmania/Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water & Environment
NSW Biosecurity Strategy 2013–2021 New South Wales/Department of Primary IndustriesSaving our Species; Species Projects New South Wales/Office of Environment and HeritageSaving our Species; Key Threatening Process Strategies
New South Wales/Office of Environment and Heritage
Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by the red fox Vulpes vulpes
New South Wales/Office of Environment and Heritage
Threat Abatement Plan for Invasion of native plant communities by Chrysamthemoides monilifera (bitou bush and boneseed)
New South Wales/Office of Environment and Heritage
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
87Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Biodiversity Priorities for Widespread Weeds
New South Wales/Office of Environment and Heritage
North Coast Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017–2022
New South Wales/North Coast Local Land Services and partners
Hastings Wild Deer Management Strategy 2016–2018
New South Wales/North Coast Local Land Services and partners
North Coast Region Wild Dog Management Plan 2015–2020
New South Wales/North Coast Local Land Services
Murray Regional Strategic Weed Management Plan 2017–2022
New South Wales/Murray Local Land Services and partners
Hume, Upper Murray & Tumbarumba Wild Dog Management Plans 2015–2020
New South Wales/Murray Local Land Services
New South Wales/National Parks and Wildlife Services
New South Wales/Forestry Corporation NSW and private foresters and private land managers
NT Biosecurity Strategy 2016–2026 Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural ResourcesStatutory Weed Management Plans for individual high priority species (Neem, Athel pine, Bellyache bush, Gamba grass, Cabomba, Mimosa)
Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Regional Weed Management Plans (Darwin, Katherine, Barkly, Alice Springs)
Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Weed Management Strategy for Crown Managed Lands
Northern Territory/Department of Environment and Natural Resources
Northern Territory/Department of Infrastructure, Planning and LogisticsIntegrated Natural Resource Management Plan (Territory Natural Resource Management)
Northern Territory/Territory Natural Resource Management
ACT Biosecurity Strategy 2016–2026 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateThe ACT Pest Animal Management Strategy 2012–2022
ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate
The ACT Weeds Strategy 2009–2019 ACT/Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development DirectorateWestern Australian Biosecurity Strategy 2016–2025
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
Western Australia/Forests Products CommissionInvasive Species Plan for Western Australia 2015–2019
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions
WA Surveillance Strategy for Invasive Species 2017–2022
Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
88 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
State notifiable disease list Western Australia/Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development
Forest Management Plan 2014–2023, and other area management plan prepared in accordance with the Conservation and Land Management Act 1982
Western Australia/Conservation and Parks Commission
Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Cane toad strategy for Western Australia 2014–2019
Western Australia/Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
Wild dog management strategy Queensland/Department of Agriculture and FisheriesWeeds and Pest Animals Strategy (draft—post public consultation)
Queensland/Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Feral deer management strategy 2013–2018
Queensland/Department of Agriculture and Fisheries
Back on Track species prioritisation framework/The Spring
Queensland/Department of Environment and Heritage Protection
Queensland State of the Environment Queensland/Department of Environment and Heritage ProtectionInvasive Plants and Animals Policy Framework and associated modules
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Action Plan for Managing Wild Dogs in Victoria 2014–2019
Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Victoria/Parks VictoriaProtecting Victoria’s Environment—Biodiversity 2037
Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (note the Victorian CMA’s utilise this strategy)
Protection of Alpine National Park—Feral Horse Strategic Action Plan 2018–2020 (draft)
Victoria/Parks Victoria
Greater Alpine National Parks Management Plan
Victoria/Parks Victoria
Victorian Waterway Management Strategy Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningDeer in Victoria’s Parks and Reserves Management Framework (draft)
Victoria/Parks Victoria
Goulburn Broken Water Plan 2014–2022 Victoria/Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority Goulburn Broken Biodiversity Strategy 2016–2021
Victoria/Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority
Our Catchment Our Communities Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and PlanningRegional Catchment Strategies Victoria/Each of the ten Catchment Management Authorities Emergency Management Manual Victoria Victoria/Emergency Management VictoriaSustainable Hunting Action Plan 2016–2020
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Code of Practice for Bushfire Management on Public Land
Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Policy and legal frameworks for environmental biosecurity in Australia
89Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
TABLE D4 National, state and territory strategies/plans/lists on environmental biosecurity
Name Jurisdiction/agency with primary responsibility
Code of Practice for Timber Production 2014
Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Codes of Practices for Feral Pig, Feral Goat, Fox, Rabbit and Wild Dog Control
Victoria/Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
Forest and Fire Management Science Catalogue
Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
East Gippsland Feral Pig Management Plan and East Gippsland Feral Pig Options Paper
Victoria/Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Wimmera Waterway Strategy 2014–2022 Victoria/Wimmera Catchment Management AuthorityWimmera Carbon Ready Plan Victoria/Wimmera Catchment Management AuthorityWimmera Invasive Plant Animal Management Strategy
Victoria/Wimmera Catchment Management Authority
Envi
ronm
ent a
nd In
vasiv
es C
omm
ittee
Wor
king
Gro
ups
NBC
Sect
oral
Com
mitt
ees
GOVE
RNAN
CE A
RRAN
GEM
ENTS
– E
NVIR
ON
MEN
TAL
BIO
SECU
RITY
Agric
ultu
re M
inist
ers’
Foru
m (A
GMIN
)AG
MIN
faci
litat
es c
olla
bora
tion
betw
een
Aust
ralia
n, st
ate
and
terr
itory
and
the
New
Zea
land
gov
ernm
ents
on
agric
ultu
ral i
ssue
s of n
atio
nal s
igni
fican
ce, i
nclu
ding
bio
secu
rity.
Agric
ultu
re Se
nior
Offi
cials
Com
mitt
ee (A
GSOC
)AG
SOC
com
prise
s hea
ds o
f the
Aus
tral
ian,
stat
e an
d te
rrito
ry a
nd th
e Ne
w Z
eala
nd d
epar
tmen
ts w
ith re
spon
sibili
ty fo
r prim
ary
indu
strie
s an
d pr
ovid
es a
dvic
e to
AGM
IN o
n bi
osec
urity
issu
es.
Natio
nal B
iose
curit
y Co
mm
ittee
(NBC
) – Th
e N
BC is
resp
onsib
le fo
r pro
vidi
ng a
dvic
e to
AGS
OC
and
AGM
IN o
n na
tiona
l bio
secu
rity
issue
s.
Inte
rgov
ernm
enta
l Agr
eem
ent o
n Bi
osec
urity
(IGA
B)
The
IGAB
is a
n ag
reem
ent b
etw
een
the
Com
mon
wea
lth a
nd a
ll st
ate
and
terr
itory
gov
ernm
ents
that
aim
s to
stre
ngth
en w
orki
ng p
artn
ersh
ips a
nd im
prov
e th
e na
tiona
l bio
secu
rity
syst
em.
Polic
y/pl
anni
ngPr
epar
edne
ssRe
spon
se
Plan
t Hea
lth
Com
mitt
ee (P
HC)
Advi
ses g
over
nmen
ts o
n pl
ant a
nd e
nviro
nmen
tal
bios
ecur
ity th
roug
h N
BC
and
AGSO
C.
Anim
al H
ealth
Co
mm
ittee
(AHC
)Ad
vise
s gov
ernm
ents
on
terr
estr
ial,
aqua
tic a
nd
envi
ronm
enta
l bi
osec
urity
thro
ugh
NBC
, AG
SOC
& A
GMIN
.
Mar
ine
Pest
Sec
tora
l Co
mm
ittee
(MPS
C)De
velo
ps &
coo
rdin
ates
th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of
natio
nal a
rran
gem
ents
to
redu
ce m
arin
e bi
osec
urity
risk
s.
Envi
ronm
ent a
nd In
vasi
ves C
omm
ittee
(EIC
) – T
he E
IC p
rovi
des n
atio
nal p
olic
y le
ader
ship
on
the
man
agem
ent o
f env
ironm
enta
l bio
secu
rity.
Fres
hwat
er v
erte
brat
es &
in
vert
ebra
tes w
orki
ng g
roup
Wee
ds w
orki
ng
grou
pEn
viro
nmen
tal b
iose
curit
y ad
viso
ry g
roup
Terr
estr
ial i
nver
tebr
ates
w
orki
ng g
roup
Terr
estr
ial v
erte
brat
es
wor
king
gro
up
Coor
dina
tor –
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
ent a
nd C
omm
unity
Bio
secu
rity
Rese
arch
De
velo
pmen
t and
Ext
ensi
on (R
D&E)
Str
ateg
y –
The
stra
tegy
aim
s to
est
ablis
h a
natio
nal c
oord
inat
ed a
nd st
rate
gic
appr
oach
to e
nviro
nmen
tal b
iose
curit
y RD
&E.
Nat
iona
l Bio
secu
rity
Emer
genc
y Pr
epar
edne
ss
Grou
p (N
BEPE
G)
Enha
nces
bio
secu
rity
emer
genc
y pr
epar
edne
ss,
resp
onse
and
initi
al
reco
very
arr
ange
men
ts.
Nat
iona
l Env
ironm
enta
l Bio
secu
rity
Resp
onse
Agr
eem
ent (
NEB
RA)
Sign
ed in
201
2, th
e N
EBRA
est
ablis
hes t
he n
atio
nal a
rran
gem
ents
for
resp
ondi
ng to
sig
nific
ant p
est a
nd d
isea
se in
curs
ions
whe
re th
ere
are
pred
omin
antly
pub
lic b
enef
its.
NEB
RA c
usto
dian
Coor
dina
tes
NEBR
A de
cisio
n m
akin
g fo
rum
s & d
evel
ops
cost
sh
arin
g ar
rang
emen
ts.
NEB
RA A
dmin
istra
tion
Grou
pRe
spon
sible
for c
onsid
erin
g an
d im
plem
entin
g th
e ou
tcom
es o
f the
20
17 N
EBRA
revi
ew.
Nat
iona
l Bio
secu
rity
Man
agem
ent G
roup
(NBM
G)De
cisio
n m
akin
g bo
dy fo
r exo
tic e
nviro
nmen
tal p
lant
pes
t and
ani
mal
di
seas
e er
adic
atio
n pr
ogra
ms u
nder
the
NEBR
A.
Tech
nica
l Con
sulta
tive
Com
mitt
ees
Coor
dina
ting
bodi
es p
rovi
ding
tech
nica
l lin
ks b
etw
een
gove
rnm
ents
and
in
dust
ry fo
r dec
isio
n m
akin
g du
ring
bios
ecur
ity in
cide
nts.
Con
sulta
tive
com
mitt
ees a
re fo
rmed
dur
ing
spec
ific
incid
ents
and
invo
lves
rele
vant
te
chni
cal e
xper
tise.
Appendix E
Governance arrangements
Inte
r-age
ncy
agre
emen
ts
Polic
y/Pl
anni
ng
Reso
urce
s
Trai
ning
/Ex
cerc
ises
CHIE
F EN
VIRO
NM
ENTA
L BI
OSE
CURI
TY O
FFIC
ER –
The
IGAB
revi
ew re
com
men
ded
the
esta
blish
men
t of t
he p
ositi
on o
f Chi
ef E
nviro
nmen
tal B
iose
curit
y O
ffice
r (CE
BO) t
o pr
ovid
e a
focu
s for
nat
iona
l Env
ironm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
resp
onse
and
en
gage
men
t. Th
e CE
BO w
as a
ppoi
nted
in la
te 2
018
NAT
IONA
L EN
VIRO
NMEN
TAL P
RIO
RITY
LIST
- In
mid
-201
7, th
e de
part
men
t com
men
ced
wor
king
with
the
Aust
ralia
n Bu
reau
of A
gricu
ltura
l and
Res
ourc
e Ec
onom
ics a
nd S
cienc
es to
dev
elop
a na
tiona
l prio
rity
list o
f exo
tic e
nviro
nmen
tal p
ests
and
dise
ases
. The
lis
t exp
ecte
d to
be
final
ised
by th
e en
d of
201
9.
DID
YMO
PREP
ARED
NESS
PLA
N -
Wor
k is c
ontin
uing
on
the
deve
lopm
ent o
f a n
atio
nal D
idym
o pr
epar
edne
ss p
lan.
Juris
dict
ions
will
be
aske
d fo
r wat
er q
ualit
y da
ta re
quire
d to
map
pot
entia
l dist
ribut
ion
of D
idym
o. W
ork w
ill th
en p
rogr
ess o
n de
velo
ping
a m
odel
NAT
IONA
L EXO
TIC
INVA
SIVE
AN
T BI
OSE
CURI
TY P
LAN
- Th
e Pl
an co
vers
act
iviti
es to
enh
ance
the
natio
nal c
apac
ity to
man
age
the
thre
at o
f inv
asiv
e an
ts a
cros
s the
Bio
secu
rity s
pect
rum
in th
e st
ages
of p
reve
ntio
n, d
etec
tion,
resp
onse
, con
tain
men
t and
ass
et-
base
d pr
otec
tion/
ongo
ing
man
agem
ent.
A dr
aft p
lan
was
rele
ased
for c
onsu
ltatio
n in
late
-201
8 an
d th
e pl
an is
bei
ng c
onsid
ered
for e
ndor
sem
ent.
ENVI
RONM
ENTA
L BI
OSE
CURI
TY R
ESPO
NSE
AND
PREP
ARED
NES
S CA
PABI
LITY
/CAP
ACIT
Y RE
VIEW
– In
Febr
uary
201
8, th
e NB
C ag
reed
that
the
NBEP
EG w
ould
lead
a re
view
of t
he b
iose
curit
y sys
tem
's pr
epar
edne
ss, a
nd re
spon
se ca
pabi
lity
and
capa
city,
for
envi
ronm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
incid
ents
. Oct
ober
201
8
NAT
IONA
L IN
CURS
ION
MAN
AGEM
ENT
FRAM
EWO
RK F
OR
INVA
SIVE
SPE
CIES
- De
velo
pmen
t of a
nat
iona
l fra
mew
ork f
or g
uidi
ng re
spon
ses t
o in
curs
ions
of i
nvas
ive sp
ecie
s whe
re th
ere
is pr
imar
ily a
pub
lic g
ood
outc
ome.
Sta
ge o
ne is
exp
ecte
d to
be
com
plet
ed
by th
e Ce
ntre
for I
nvas
ive
Spec
ies S
olut
ions
in M
arch
2019
RESP
ON
SE P
LANS
- Re
spon
se p
lans
set o
ut th
e ag
reed
app
roac
h fo
r man
agin
g an
outb
reak
invo
lving
ani
mal
dise
ases
(AU
SVET
PLAN
), aq
uatic
ani
mal
dise
ases
(AQ
UAVE
TPLA
N), p
lant
pes
ts (P
LAN
TPLA
N),
and
mar
ine
pest
s (Em
erge
ncy M
arin
e Pe
st P
lan)
. Wild
life
Heal
th A
ustr
alia
are
curr
ently
dra
fting
a W
ildlif
e He
alth
Pla
n
VERT
EBRA
TE P
EST
ERAD
ICAT
ION
- De
velo
pmen
t of t
ools
to su
ppor
t cos
t-effe
ctive
dec
ision
-mak
ing
for v
erte
brat
e Pe
st e
radi
catio
ns. T
o be
dev
elop
ed b
y the
Cen
tre
for I
nvas
ive
Spec
ies S
olut
ions
by 2
022
NEB
RA R
EVIE
W -
An in
depe
nden
t rev
iew
of t
he N
EBRA
was
del
iver
ed in
201
7. T
he re
spon
se to
the
revi
ew re
com
men
datio
ns is
bei
ng d
evel
oped
by
the
NEB
RA A
dmin
istra
tion
Gro
up (A
dmin
Gro
up),
whi
ch w
as e
stab
lishe
d by
the
Nat
iona
l Bio
secu
rity
Com
mitt
ee. A
ll ju
risdi
ctio
ns a
re re
pres
ente
d on
this
grou
p w
hich
is c
haire
d by
the
Depa
rtm
ent o
f Agr
icul
ture
and
Wat
er R
esou
rces
. A d
raft
revi
sed
NEBR
A is
expe
cted
to b
e re
leas
ed fo
r pub
lic c
onsu
ltatio
n in
mid
-201
9
FORM
AL A
RRAN
GMEN
TS —
AGR
ICU
LTUR
E AN
D E
NVI
RONM
ENT
The
2017
IGAB
revi
ew re
com
men
ded
the
esta
blish
men
t of f
orm
alise
d ar
rang
emen
ts b
etw
een
agric
ultu
re a
nd e
nviro
nmen
t.Th
e Ch
ief E
nviro
nmen
tal B
iose
curit
y O
ffice
r is w
orkin
g w
ith th
e De
partm
ent o
f the
Env
ironm
ent a
nd E
nerg
y to
form
alise
an
agre
emen
t to
wor
k to
geth
er to
stre
ngth
en e
nviro
nmen
tal b
iose
curit
y.
NEB
RATh
e N
EBRA
was
sign
ed b
y th
e Co
mm
onw
ealth
, sta
te a
nd te
rrito
ry g
over
nmen
ts in
Janu
ary
2012
. It
esta
blish
es th
e na
tiona
l arr
ange
men
ts fo
r res
pond
ing
to s
igni
fican
t pes
t and
dis
ease
incu
rsio
ns w
here
ther
e ar
e pr
edom
inan
tly p
ublic
ben
efits
. The
NEB
RA is
bei
ng re
view
ed a
nd a
dra
ft re
vise
d NE
BRA
is ex
pect
ed to
be
rele
ased
for
publ
ic co
nsul
tatio
n in
mid
-201
9
eDN
ADe
velo
pmen
t of r
eal t
ime
eDNA
tool
s to
impr
ove
early
dete
ctio
n an
d re
spon
se a
ppro
ache
s for
hig
h ris
k pe
stan
imal
s by
the
Cent
re fo
r Inv
asiv
e Sp
ecie
s Sol
utio
ns b
y 20
22
CHIE
F EN
VIRO
NM
ENTA
L BI
OSE
CURI
TY O
FFIC
ERTh
e IG
AB re
view
reco
mm
ende
d th
e es
tabl
ishm
ent o
f the
po
sitio
n of
Chi
ef E
nviro
nmen
tal B
iose
curit
y O
ffice
r to
prov
ide
a fo
cus f
or n
atio
nal e
nviro
nmen
tal b
iose
curit
y re
spon
se a
nd e
ngag
emen
t.
PASS
IVE
AND
ACTI
VE S
URV
EILL
ANC
E TO
OLS
AND
N
ETW
ORK
STh
e es
tabl
ishm
ent o
f an
ongo
ing
natio
nal s
urve
illan
cene
twor
k in
tim
e to
mou
nt fe
asib
le re
spon
ses
to b
e de
velo
ped
by th
e Ce
ntre
for I
nvas
ive
Spec
ies
Solu
tions
by
2022
NAT
ION
AL B
IOSE
CURI
TY R
ESPO
NSE
TEA
M (N
BRT)
The
NBR
T is
a gr
oup
of tr
aine
d an
d ex
perie
nced
pers
onne
l tha
t may
be
depl
oyed
to a
ssist
a ju
risdi
ctio
nin
the
resp
onse
to a
nim
al, p
lant
, aqu
atic
or
envi
ronm
enta
l bio
secu
rity
incid
ents
.Th
e N
BRT
was
est
ablis
hed
in Ju
ly 2
017
EXER
CISE
BO
RDER
BRI
DGE
The
exer
cise
occ
urre
d in
Mar
ch 2
018
to a
sses
s the
capa
bilit
y of
New
Sou
th W
ales
and
Que
ensla
nd to
resp
ond
to
a bi
osec
urity
inci
dent
occ
urrin
g ac
ross
bot
h ju
risdi
ctio
ns. T
he sc
enar
io w
as b
ased
on
a pe
st a
nd d
isea
se
incu
rsio
n th
at a
ffec
ted
lives
tock
and
the
plan
t pro
duct
ion
indu
strie
s. Th
is Ex
erci
se a
lso
invo
lved
env
ironm
enta
l bi
osec
urity
ele
men
ts. T
he e
xerc
ise
repo
rt w
as re
leas
ed in
late
201
8
Bios
ecur
ity E
mer
genc
y Re
spon
se T
rain
ers
Aust
ralia
Resp
onsib
le fo
r dev
elop
ing
trai
ning
and
as
sess
men
t mat
eria
ls fo
r all
bios
ecur
ityin
cide
nts
EXER
CISE
CRO
WN
AN
D AN
CHO
RTh
e ex
erci
se o
ccur
red
in C
anbe
rra,
ACT
, in
Mar
ch 2
019.
It a
imed
to e
nhan
ce
emer
genc
y re
spon
se a
rran
gem
ents
dur
ing
a bi
osec
urity
inci
dent
in a
Co
mm
onw
ealth
-gov
erne
d lo
catio
n w
ith th
e po
tent
ial t
o sp
read
into
an
adjo
inin
g ju
risdi
ctio
n. T
he d
iscus
sion
exe
rcise
was
bas
ed o
n tw
o sc
enar
ios,
det
ectio
n of
Var
roa
dest
ruct
or in
Jerv
is B
ay a
nd R
ed Im
port
ed F
ire A
nts a
t Can
berr
a Ai
rpor
t.
ENVI
RONM
ENTA
L BIO
SECU
RITY
PRE
PARE
DNES
S AN
D RE
SPON
SE A
CTIV
ITIE
S
Prev
entio
nPr
epar
edne
ssRe
spon
se
Appendix F
Environmental biosecurity preparedness and response activities
92 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia92 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Dire
ct C
onsi
dera
tion
of E
nviro
nmen
tal B
iose
curit
y Su
ppor
ting
Cons
ider
atio
n of
Env
ironm
enta
l Bio
secu
rity
Grou
ps w
ithou
t an
envi
ronm
enta
l rep
rese
ntat
ive
Natio
nal/C
omm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent
Aust
ralia
n M
arin
e Pe
st re
sear
ch N
etwo
rkAu
stra
lian
Alps
Liai
son
Com
mitt
eeBa
t hea
lth fo
cus g
roup
Chris
tmas
Isla
nd C
at Er
adica
tion
Stee
ring
Com
mitt
eeCh
ristm
as Is
land
Cat
Erad
icatio
n Te
chni
cal a
nd Sc
ient
ific S
ub C
omm
ittee
Cons
ulta
tive C
omm
ittee
on
Intr
oduc
ed M
arin
e Pe
st Em
erge
ncie
sCo
nsul
tativ
e Com
mitt
ee fo
r Exo
tic P
lant I
ncur
sions
Envir
onm
enta
l Bio
secu
rity R
ound
tabl
eIn
vasiv
e Plan
ts an
d An
imals
Com
mitt
eeIM
ArES
T Bio
foul
ing
Man
agem
ent S
pecia
l Int
eres
t Gro
upM
arin
e Pe
st Se
ctor
al C
omm
ittee
Natio
nal B
iose
curit
y M
anag
emen
t Con
sulta
tive
Com
mitt
ees
Natio
nal R
ed Im
porte
d Fi
re A
nt Er
adica
tion
Prog
ram
Stee
ring C
omm
ittee
Natio
nal B
iose
curit
y M
anag
emen
t Gro
upNa
tiona
l Fer
al C
at T
askf
orce
Wild
life
Healt
h Au
stral
ia Co
ordi
nato
r Gro
up
Stat
e an
d Te
rrito
ry G
over
nmen
tAC
T Pe
st A
nim
al M
anag
emen
t Com
mitt
eeAC
T W
eeds
Adv
isory
Gro
upNS
W H
astin
gs W
ild D
eer W
orki
ng G
roup
NSW
Mur
ray
Regi
onal
Wee
ds C
omm
ittee
NSW
Nor
th C
oast
Reg
iona
l Wee
ds C
omm
ittee
NSW
Nor
th E
ast P
est A
nim
al A
dvis
ory
Com
mitt
eeNS
W N
orth
Wes
t Reg
iona
l Wee
ds C
omm
ittee
NSW
Tro
pica
l Sod
a Ap
ple
Task
forc
eNo
rthe
rn T
errit
ory
Wee
ds A
dviso
ry C
omm
ittee
NT Z
oono
ses a
nd E
nviro
nmen
tal P
atho
gens
Com
mitt
eeQ
LD S
tate
Lan
ds P
est M
anag
emen
t Com
mitt
eeQ
ueen
sland
Inva
sive
Plan
ts a
nd A
nim
als C
omm
ittee
SA B
uffe
l Gra
ss T
askf
orce
SA D
ecla
red
Plan
ts W
orki
ng G
roup
SA M
arin
e Bi
osec
urity
For
umSA
NRM
Pes
t Ani
mal
And
Pla
nt M
anag
emen
t Net
wor
kVI
C Es
tabl
ished
Pes
t Ani
mal
s ad
Wee
ds P
roje
ct D
elive
ry L
eade
rshi
p G
roup
VIC
Blac
kber
ry T
askf
orce
VIC
Gors
e Ta
skfo
rce
VIC
Serr
ated
Tus
sock
Wor
king
Gro
upVI
C Ca
rp C
ontr
ol B
oard
and
Wor
king
Gro
upPa
rks V
itoria
Fer
al H
orse
Tec
hnica
l Ref
eren
ce G
roup
VIC
North
Eas
t Dee
r For
umVI
C Hu
me
Regi
onal
Dee
r Rou
ndta
ble
VIC
Sprin
ghur
st R
abbi
t Rou
ndta
ble
and
othe
r reg
iona
l rab
bit f
orum
sVi
ctor
ian
Wild
Dog
Man
agem
ent A
dviso
ry C
omm
ittee
WA
Dieb
ack W
orki
ng G
roup
WA
Fres
hwat
er F
ish E
xper
t Gro
up
Natio
nal/C
omm
onw
ealth
Gov
ernm
ent
Agric
ultu
re M
inis
ters
For
umAg
ricul
ture
Sen
ior O
fficia
ls Co
mm
ittee
Anim
al H
ealth
Com
mitt
eeAq
uatic
Con
sulta
tive C
omm
ittee
on
Emer
genc
y Ani
mal
Dise
ase
Aust
rala
sian
Envi
ronm
enta
l Law
Enf
orce
men
t and
Reg
ulat
ors N
etw
ork
Bios
ecur
ity R
esea
rch
Stee
ring C
omm
ittee
Bios
ecur
ity R
ound
tabl
esCo
nsul
tativ
e Co
mm
ittee
on
Emer
genc
y An
imal
Dise
ase
Cons
ulta
tive C
omm
ittee
on
Emer
genc
y Pla
nt P
ests
Cons
ulta
tive G
roup
on
Bios
ecur
ity C
oope
ratio
nN
atio
nal B
iose
curit
y Co
mm
ittee
Natio
nal B
iose
curit
y Em
erge
ncy
Prep
ared
ness
Exp
ert G
roup
Nat
iona
l Man
agem
ent G
roup
sN
orth
ern
Aust
ralia
Bio
secu
rity F
ram
ewor
k Re
fere
nce
Gro
up
Plan
t Hea
lth C
omm
ittee
Qua
rant
ine
Regu
lato
rs M
eetin
gRe
sear
ch &
Inno
vatio
n Co
mm
ittee
Sub-
com
mitt
ee o
n Aq
uatic
Ani
mal
Heal
thSu
bcom
mitt
ee o
n D
omes
tic Q
uara
ntin
e an
d M
arke
t Acc
ess
Subc
omm
ittee
on
Natio
nal P
lant H
ealth
Surv
eilla
nce
Subc
omm
ittee
on
Plan
t Hea
lth D
iagno
stics
Thre
aten
ed S
peci
es S
cien
tific
Com
mitt
ee
Stat
e an
d Te
rrito
ry G
over
nmen
tAC
T Bi
osec
urity
Coo
rdin
atio
n Co
mm
ittee
Bios
ecur
ity Q
ueen
sland
Min
ister
ial A
dviso
ry C
ounc
ilN
SW B
iose
curit
y Ad
viso
ry C
omm
ittee
SA B
iose
curit
y Adv
isory
Com
mitt
ee to
Kan
garo
o Isl
and
NRM
Boa
rdSA
Nat
ural
Res
ourc
es M
anag
emen
t Boa
rds
VIC
Regi
onal
Bio
dive
rsity
Rec
over
y G
roup
sVI
C Sc
ientif
ic Ad
visor
y Com
mitt
eeW
A Bi
osec
urity
Cou
ncil
WA
Bios
ecur
ity S
enio
r Offi
cers
Gro
upW
A D
PIRD
Live
stoc
k Bio
secu
rity c
onsu
ltativ
e gr
oups
WA
Thre
aten
ed S
peci
es S
cient
ific
Com
mitt
ee
Appendix G
List of committees, forums and groups that support government management of environmental biosecurity
93Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 93Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Appendix H
Responses to NEBRA review recommendations
The Australian Government is working with other NEBRA signatories to respond to the review through the National Biosecurity Committee (NBC).
Recommendation Update from NEBRA secretariat by February 2019
Recommendation 1:
The language used in the NEBRA to describe stakeholders should be consistent with that used in the broader IGAB and the other biosecurity response agreements (EADRA and EPPRD).
The NBC most recently considered this recommendation at the NEBRA review specific workshop held on 18 December 2018. NBC are currently finalising the outcomes of their workshop and we expect more information to be available in late March.
Recommendation 2:
The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture and Water Resources should remain as the custodian of NEBRA. If, following the IGAB Review, a new entity is created with responsibility for environmental biosecurity, consideration should be given to the role the entity should play in relation to NEBRA custodianship.
The NBC most recently considered this recommendation at the NEBRA review specific workshop held on 18 December 2018. NBC are currently finalising the outcomes of their workshop and we expect more information to be available in late March.
Recommendation 3:
National Biosecurity Management Group (NBMG) meetings should be co-chaired by an executive from the Commonwealth Department of Environment and Energy (DoEE), potentially the Chief Environmental Biosecurity Officer if that position is created following the IGAB Review.
Jurisdictions have noted that Environment is already a member of the NBMG and has influence in decisions through this channel. However, a co-chair for meetings duplicates activities and would make NBMG decision-making more complex.
Recommendation 4:
NBMG members should undertake formal consultation with their environment agency counterparts in each jurisdiction prior to any substantive decision being made under the NEBRA.
Jurisdictions have noted that environmental agencies are consulted at both the National Biosecurity Management Consultative Committee (NBMCC) and NBMG levels and have raised concern that making this consultation a formal requirement may delay decision-making in an emergency response.
Responses to NEBRA review recommendations
94 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation Update from NEBRA secretariat by February 2019
Recommendation 5:
The NEBRA custodian role should be enhanced to support a maturing NEBRA. Areas of focus include greater public transparency around decision-making, greater support for the development of interpretative guides,enhanced communication with non-government stakeholders and general co-ordination of stakeholder activity. An enhanced custodian role would require a greater level of resourcing for the NEBRA custodian role.
NBC is currently considering options for an enhanced NEBRA custodian that is cost-shared between jurisdictions.
Recommendation 6:
The NEBRA Administrative Group formed for the purpose of guiding this review should be instituted as an ongoing body to enable the states and territories to support and engage with an enhanced NEBRA custodian. It would also facilitate continuity of oversight and allow for feedback to the custodian in a structured manner.
The EIC was established after the NEBRA review report was delivered and provides overarching administration, policy advice and engagement on the NEBRA where this falls outside the custodian role. With the EIC in place, there is little need for the NEBRA Administrative Group to exist past its role in relation to the review.
Recommendation 7:
A summary of decisions made by NBMGs on whether or not to apply NEBRA should be made publicly available in a timely manner to encourage wider understanding of the operation of the agreement.
This recommendation was adopted by the NBC, in February 2018, when it agreed to the public release of information regarding NBMG decisions, excluding financial information. Currently this information is published on the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources website though the NBMG communiqués.
Recommendation 8:
The NEBRA should be re-drafted around four phases to a response: Incident Definition, Emergency Response, Proof of Freedom and Transition to Management (consistent with EPPRD). The commencement of each phase should require separate approval by NBMG of a phase plan in order to limit the scope of cost-shared activity.
Jurisdictions support the NEBRA being re-drafted around four phases of a response.
Recommendation 9:
Analysis and documentation conducted during the Incident Definition Phase should be eligible for cost sharing, contingent on an initial assessment by NBMG of the likelihood that an incident will meet NEBRA criteria and approval of an Incident Definition Plan.
Jurisdictions continue to explore this recommendation and how adopting this approach in the NEBRA will impact on the existing emergency response deed framework, in particular the well-established understanding that jurisdictions are expected to undertake certain activity as part of their ‘normal commitments’.
Recommendation 10:
The NEBRA should be re-drafted to allow for a time-limited (12 month) cost-shared Transition to Management phase. This Transition to Management phase could follow on from an Emergency Response phase where eradication has been determined no longer to be possible.
Jurisdictions have indicated support for this recommendation.
Responses to NEBRA review recommendations
95Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation Update from NEBRA secretariat by February 2019
Recommendation 11:
The feasibility of conducting a five-yearly test of preparedness for the unique challenges posed by an environmental biosecurity response under NEBRA should be considered by the National Biosecurity Committee.
NBC will considered this at its October 2018 meeting.
Recommendation 12:
Meeting and decision-making protocols in NEBRA should be redrafted to reflect that:
The NBMCC provides technical and expert advice to the NBMG, it does not make decisions and its meetings should not involve voting. If members of the NBMCC hold different views all views should be incorporated into the written advice to the NBMG.
Voting membership of the NBMG should be limited to parties who will be contributing to a cost-shared response. Jurisdictions who are not potentially affected by a pest or disease or who have indicated that they do not intend to contribute to a cost-shared response should be non-voting members of the NBMG.
All decisions of the NBMG should need to be made unanimously between voting members.
Where attendance at NBMG meetings is delegated, the jurisdiction must enable that delegate to make decisions during the meeting.
Jurisdictions agree with the principles put forward in this recommendation but suggest that the NEBRA should be re-drafted to align the NBMCC and NBMG meeting protocols and definitions of consensus and unanimous, with the existing deeds.
Recommendation 13:
The NEBRA should be amended to allow any system participants to seek approval to participate in NBMG meetings as voting members if the system-participant has made (or will make)significant in-kind or financial contributions to a response in relation to an outbreak. Inclusion of system-participants as voting members should be at the discretion of the other NBMG members.
The NEBRA already allows private beneficiaries to be voting members at NBMG’s, although in practice this has never occurred. Jurisdictions are working through the guidance material needed to make the process easier and more transparent and to set an understanding about level of financial or in-kind contribution required.
Recommendation 14:
National significance for proposed NEBRA responses should be assessed in line with a broader risk prioritisation framework (such as that recommended in the draft IGAB report)rather than static criteria for national significance.
Jurisdictions note that the national significance criteria have been tested only a few times since they were agreed in 2012 and that a risk prioritization framework is not currently available to consider as an alternative.
Responses to NEBRA review recommendations
96 Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
Recommendation Update from NEBRA secretariat by February 2019
Recommendation 15:
Benefit-cost analysis requirements and guidance in NEBRA should be revised and simplified to accept qualitative descriptions of benefits where no pre-existing studies on the cost of an outbreak are available.
Jurisdictions have indicated support for this recommendation.
Recommendation 16:
The National Biosecurity Committee should consider whether there is sufficient support to revise NEBRA to provide for cost-shared responses aimed at containment in some instances. These instances may include wildlife disease or environmental weeds where it be may be difficult to demonstrate feasibility of eradication but there are net benefits in a national, time-limited containment response. Alternatively, a different mechanism could be developed to facilitate cost sharing arrangements where eradication is not possible, but there are joint benefits to ensuring containment.
Jurisdictions continue to explore this recommendation and note that the issue of cost sharing containment activities is a broader issue than its treatment under the NEBRA.
97Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia 97Environmental biosecurity risk management in Australia
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——2018, Live squirrels intercepted at Brisbane Airport, media release, Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, Canberra, 13 December, accessed 6 March 2019.
Agriculture and Environment 2014, Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications References Committee inquiry into environmental biosecurity, joint submission from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Environment, Canberra, August, p. 9.
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IGB 2018, Hitchhiker pest and contaminant biosecurity risk management in Australia, Inspector-General of Biosecurity, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
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Kearney, SG, Cawardine, J, Reside, AE, Fisher, DO, Maron, M, Doherty, TS, Legge, S, Silcock, J, Woinarski, JC, Garnett, ST, Wintle, BA & Watson, JE 2018, The threats to Australia’s imperilled species and implications for a national conservation response, Pacific Conservation Biology, doi.org/10.1071/PC18024, accessed 19 February 2019.
Lintermans, M 2004, Human-assisted dispersal of alien freshwater fish in Australia, New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research, vol. 38, no. 3, pp. 481–501, doi.org/10.1080/00288330.2004.9517255, accessed 26 November 2018.
Makinson, RO 2018, Myrtle rust in Australia—a draft action plan, presented at the Plant Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre’s National Science Exchange, Melbourne, accessed 26 November 2018.
Scudamore, JM & Harris DM 2002, Control of foot and mouth disease: lessons from the experience of the outbreak in Great Britain in 2001, Revue Scientifique et Technique, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 699–710, doi.org/10.20506/rst.21.3.1351a, accessed 19 February 2019.
Senate Environment and Communications References Committee 2015, Environmental biosecurity, Commonwealth of Australia, Canberra.
Strona, G, Carstens, CJ & Beck, PSA 2017, Network analysis reveals why 'Xylella fastidiosa' will persist in Europe, Scientific Reports, vol. 7, no. 71, doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-00077-z, accessed 19 February 2019.
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