December 21, 2022

 

Levy on Australia's imports to support domestic biosecurity highlighted as key priority

 

 

 

More funding for Australia's biosecurity through the introduction of a levy on imports has been identified as a key priority for the Australian government, following a six month-long Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry.

 

A multi-party committee has handed down 29 recommendations from its inquiry into the adequacy of the country's biosecurity measures and response preparedness, with a particular focus on foot and mouth disease and varroa mite.

 

The inquiry attracted over 100 submissions and involved six public hearings in Canberra, Rockhampton and Newcastle. The wide-ranging recommendations include the need for Australia to secure an adequate and long-term mechanism to fund biosecurity.

 

A final report warns that the failure of prevention and detection measures through inadequate funding "would have profound and widespread impacts" on the entire Australian economy and unique ecosystem.

 

The Senate committee has urged the government to increase "real base funding levels" through the application of a biosecurity import levy. The freight sector – as "the creator of a major biosecurity risk" – should also contribute funds to biosecurity control measures, the committee said, while emphasising that such a levy must be applied fairly and in a way that is proportionate to risk profiles.

 

That the Australian Government has recommenced consultations to explore sustainable and long-term biosecurity funding options was encouraging, the committee said. The committee also wants to see urgent attention paid to developing a national biosecurity workforce strategy.

 

"Based on the evidence received by the committee, it is clear the current biosecurity workforce has neither the capacity nor the full capability to address the current risks, with no surge capacity should there be multiple incursions across multiple jurisdictions," the committee said. "The committee supports the development of a national biosecurity workforce strategy to identify skills needs and bolster capability and capacity, and supports the inclusion of an audit of existing capabilities and training to inform the development of the strategy."

 

The committeealso singled out the pressing need to address  a "crisis" in the rural veterinary profession, especially in remote areas.

 

"Veterinarians are an essential part of Australia's biosecurity system— holding key front-line defence roles in monitoring and surveillance, disease detection, EAD preparedness and response and animal welfare," the committee added.

 

"Veterinarians bear significant pressures in any EAD response, and there needs to be sufficient capacity to meet initial and potentially extended response measures.

 

"Attracting and retaining rural vets is clearly challenging and complex, and will require a coordinated response between government and industry to address shortfalls in the medium-long term."

 

Recommendations also include calls for:

 

    – A national response to control and manage feral and invasive species, including on crown land;

 

    – More funding to appropriately maintain compensation arrangements for impacted entities, including livestock transporters;

 

    – A review of national livestock traceability funding;

 

    – The establishment of a separate authority responsible for managing Australian livestock traceability;

 

    – The extension of NLIS to include individual sheep and goats;

 

    – A long-term funding mechanism specifically for biosecurity research.

 

Based on the evidence received during the inquiry, the committee concluded that Australia's pre-border measures and at-border measures have been "largely effective", but it also noted that it saw evidence the system is "under pressure and fragile" .

 

The department's decision to impose further import restrictions on the import of unregulated meat products potentially carrying diseases "should have been made earlier," the committee said. "Decision making by the department needs to.. better (consider) the competing interests of importers against those of Australia's producers and consumers."

 

The committee acknowledged the work being done by the department to address highly complex and increasing biosecurity challenges, including the development of Commonwealth Biosecurity 2030 and the release of the National Biosecurity Strategy.

 

It also recognised the department's progress and increased transparency through its annual action plans, and welcomed further increased penalties for biosecurity noncompliance.

 

However it noted "with concern" the slow progress and in some cases lack of progress of the implementation of recommendations from previous biosecurity reviews.

 

"This lack of urgency appears to result from insufficient governance measures, organisational culture and insufficient staff, and financial resources within DAFF," the committee said. It also expressed concern that DAFF "does not appear to be utilising the full suite of regulatory, compliance and enforcement tools it has available".

 

Recommendations also called for a greater focus and investment in on-shore surveillance, monitoring and early detection activities, particularly in northern Australia, and including the development and action of the National Lumpy Skin Disease Action Plan.

 

"These measures will help safeguard the country's trade and status and clean, green reputation, the natural environment and the livelihoods and lifestyles of Australian producers and residents."

 

The committee said it is "satisfied" that the current vaccine bank arrangements in place would meet Australia's needs for vaccines in the event of an FMD incursion, and it supports the establishment of a similar vaccine bank for LSD.

 

The Australian government should also negotiate with the United Kingdom the ability for researchers from the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness to access and conduct research on Australia's bank of foot-and-mouth virus vaccine in the UK, the report recommended.

 

Several recommendations also called for the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry  and freight, shipping, port and biosecurity stakeholders, including Australia Post, to review its food import frameworks and enhance biosecurity screening.

 

- Sheep Central