Australia’s biosecurity system plays a central role in protecting the country’s economy, environment and food systems, providing a comprehensive framework to prevent, detect and respond to pests and diseases.

While the system has been designed with a strong focus on border control and primary production, there remain opportunities to strengthen its effectiveness in managing increasingly complex supply chains, evolving production systems and climate-driven risk. Enhancing national biosecurity capability will require improved data integration, stronger coordination across jurisdictions and sectors, and greater alignment with the full agricultural value chain.

Strengthening the system will depend on building an interoperable data infrastructure, integrating multidisciplinary expertise and expanding workforce capability. Embedding more inclusive and collaborative approaches, including with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, will also be vital.

By advancing these reforms and targeting areas of emerging risk and underinvestment, Australia’s biosecurity system can improve early detection, response and eradication, and ensure it remains resilient and adaptive in a shifting global environment.

ATSE makes the following recommendations

RECOMMENDATION 1

Increase investment in R&D, including in biosecurity technologies and artificial intelligence adoption.

RECOMMENDATION 2

Establish a nationally interoperable biosecurity data platform, supported by consistent data standards and privacy frameworks.

RECOMMENDATION 3

Establish a strengthened national biosecurity coordination model with clear end-to-end accountability, building on existing partnership structures and aligned to a One Health framework.

RECOMMENDATION 4

Develop a cross-disciplinary biosecurity workforce strategy that integrates digital capability, expands educational pathways, and embeds First Nations communities as formal partners in formative biosecurity systems.

RECOMMENDATION 5

Expand the national biosecurity framework to explicitly include food manufacturing, processing, and supply chain logistics, with defined surveillance and response roles across the full value chain.

RECOMMENDATION

Strengthen integration between agricultural biosecurity and food safety systems, including formal recognition of food manufacturing professionals within the biosecurity workforce.

AUG

2022

ATSE Submission on the adequacy of Australia’s biosecurity measures

This submission proposes four key recommendations for responding to the FMD outbreak and improving Australia’s preparedness for future agricultural disease outbreaks.

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Agriculture & Food

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Submission on the National Biosecurity Reforms

Australia’s biosecurity system plays a central role in protecting the country’s economy, environment and food systems, providing a comprehensive framework to prevent, detect and respond to pests and diseases.

ATSE makes the following recommendations

RECOMMENDATION 1

Increase investment in R&D, including in biosecurity technologies and artificial intelligence adoption.

Establish a nationally interoperable biosecurity data platform, supported by consistent data standards and privacy frameworks.

Establish a strengthened national biosecurity coordination model with clear end-to-end accountability, building on existing partnership structures and aligned to a One Health framework.

Develop a cross-disciplinary biosecurity workforce strategy that integrates digital capability, expands educational pathways, and embeds First Nations communities as formal partners in formative biosecurity systems.

Expand the national biosecurity framework to explicitly include food manufacturing, processing, and supply chain logistics, with defined surveillance and response roles across the full value chain.

Strengthen integration between agricultural biosecurity and food safety systems, including formal recognition of food manufacturing professionals within the biosecurity workforce.

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Submission on the National Biosecurity Reforms

Australia’s biosecurity system plays a central role in protecting the country’s economy, environment and food systems, providing a comprehensive framework to prevent, detect and respond to pests and diseases.

ATSE makes the following recommendations

RECOMMENDATION 1

Increase investment in R&D, including in biosecurity technologies and artificial intelligence adoption.

Establish a nationally interoperable biosecurity data platform, supported by consistent data standards and privacy frameworks.

Establish a strengthened national biosecurity coordination model with clear end-to-end accountability, building on existing partnership structures and aligned to a One Health framework.

Develop a cross-disciplinary biosecurity workforce strategy that integrates digital capability, expands educational pathways, and embeds First Nations communities as formal partners in formative biosecurity systems.

Expand the national biosecurity framework to explicitly include food manufacturing, processing, and supply chain logistics, with defined surveillance and response roles across the full value chain.

Strengthen integration between agricultural biosecurity and food safety systems, including formal recognition of food manufacturing professionals within the biosecurity workforce.