Biosecurity system slammed

More than 38,000 air travellers entered Australia over a nine-month period with high-risk biosecurity material going undetected.

The auditor-general on Monday issued a scathing report card on the federal agriculture department’s handling of the biosecurity system.

The report found in the first nine months of 2019-20 an estimated 38,200 air travellers entered Australia with undetected highrisk biosecurity material.

“The Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment’s arrangements to respond to non-compliance with biosecurity requirements are largely inappropriate,” the report found.

“The department’s compliance framework is largely inappropriate.

“There is no framework to assess risk across the entire biosecurity system and target regulatory actions accordingly.”

The audit found arrangements to detect non-compliance were partially appropriate, but departmental estimates indicate undetected non-compliance was increasing.

The department has agreed to all eight recommendations from the auditorgeneral, including better use of intelligence and computers and an improved risk management framework.

As well, it agreed to look at the better use of tools to respond to non-compliance including monitoring and investigation powers, education, suspending or revoking permissions, civil sanctions and criminal prosecution.

“The department recognises there is a need to mature our regulatory capability to meet new and emerging challenges,” it said in response to the report.

“Substantial progress has been made to implement a suite of regulatory practice improvements, and the Federal Government’s 2021-22 budget biosecurity package will further support the department to enhance its biosecurity functions including its compliance program.”

The department said Australia’s biosecurity system had served the country well, protecting agriculture, the environment, and people from threats including African swine fever, foot and mouth disease and hitchhiker pests.

AUSVEG, the peak industry body for Australia’s vegetable growers, has called for urgent action following the report.

AUSVEG chief executive officer James Whiteside said the industry had been crying out for more ongoing support for the nation’s biosecurity system for years, with recent biosecurity incursions proof that biosecurity was too important to be left to chance and luck.

“An ineffective biosecurity system increases the risks for harmful pests and diseases to enter our shores and threatens the viability of our entire agriculture sector,” Mr Whiteside said.

“As we have seen over the last 18 months, ensuring Australia has a strong, fit-for-purpose and well-resourced biosecurity system is vital for Australia’s agriculture industry and important for the health and safety of every Australian.

“While we have natural advantages due to our geographical location, we cannot afford to be complacent.

“Recent biosecurity outbreaks in this country, including fall armyworm and serpentine leafminer, have shown the tremendous economic and emotional toll that incursions have on an industry and its members.”