BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA

Australians Unified – Agriculture, Environment & National Biosecurity Division

Biosecurity Australia is the nation’s frontline authority for protecting Australia’s agriculture, environment, economy, and communities from pests, diseases, and biosecurity threats. It provides scientific risk assessments, regulatory oversight, and national coordination to safeguard Australia’s unique biodiversity and global trading reputation.

Biosecurity Australia works with government agencies, industry, First Nations communities, scientists, and international partners to prevent incursions, manage outbreaks, and strengthen national resilience.

OUR ROLE

Biosecurity Australia exists to:

  • Assess and manage biosecurity risks to Australia

  • Protect agriculture, environment, and biodiversity

  • Prevent pests, diseases, and invasive species entering the country

  • Support national emergency responses and outbreak management

  • Provide scientific and regulatory advice to government

  • Strengthen border, supply chain, and on‑farm biosecurity

  • Coordinate with states, territories, and international partners

Biosecurity Australia ensures Australia remains safe, productive, and globally competitive.

 

OUR STRENGTHS

Scientific & Regulatory Strengths

  • National leadership in biosecurity risk assessment

  • Strong scientific capability across plant, animal, and environmental health

  • Trusted regulatory frameworks and import risk assessments

  • Established partnerships with industry and research bodies

  • Proven emergency response capability

Sovereign Strengths

  • Critical role in protecting national food security

  • Essential to Australia’s trade and market access

  • Central to safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystems

OUR WEAKNESSES

Structural Weaknesses

  • Ageing surveillance and diagnostic systems

  • Limited real‑time data integration across jurisdictions

  • High operational costs in remote and border regions

  • Slow modernisation of digital regulatory tools

  • Fragmented national coordination

Operational Weaknesses

  • Workforce shortages in specialist biosecurity roles

  • Rising complexity of global biosecurity threats

  • Limited outreach to small producers and remote communities

  • Increasing demand for rapid risk assessments

OUR OPPORTUNITIES

Strategic Opportunities

  • Modernise national biosecurity surveillance systems

  • Strengthen climate‑resilient biosecurity planning

  • Expand genomic and diagnostic capability

  • Improve First Nations partnerships and co‑management

  • Enhance international biosecurity leadership

Operational Opportunities

  • Recruit and retain specialist scientists and inspectors

  • Improve digital monitoring and analytics

  • Strengthen partnerships with industry and research bodies

  • Expand community and regional engagement

 

OUR THREATS

External Threats

  • Climate change increasing pest and disease spread

  • Global trade and travel raising incursion risks

  • Illegal imports and supply chain vulnerabilities

  • Emerging zoonotic diseases

Internal Threats

  • Resource constraints

  • Outdated monitoring technologies

  • Workforce fatigue and retention challenges

  • Limited surge capacity for major outbreaks

BETTER INTEGRATION WITH GOVERNMENT, INDUSTRY & COMMUNITY

One national biosecurity ecosystem

Key Actions

  • Integrated data‑sharing platforms

  • Stronger partnerships with industry and research bodies

  • National community and regional engagement

  • Shared analytics and intelligence systems

Outcome: A more coordinated, community‑connected biosecurity network.

 

5. A SAFER, MORE RESILIENT AUSTRALIA

Protecting agriculture, environment, and public health

Key Actions

  • Climate‑resilient biosecurity planning

  • Ecosystem‑based risk management

  • National outbreak preparedness

  • Public transparency and open data

Outcome: A healthier, more secure national environment.

THE FUTURE‑READY BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA

A national blueprint for resilient, science‑led biosecurity protection

 

1. FASTER, MORE ACCURATE BIOSECURITY SYSTEMS

Strengthening national detection and response capability

Key Actions

  • Modern digital surveillance systems

  • Faster diagnostic and laboratory processes

  • Improved border and supply chain monitoring

  • Strengthened coordination with agencies

Outcome: A more agile, responsive biosecurity system.

 

2. STRONGER SOVEREIGN BIOSECURITY CAPABILITY

Building Australian capability for national protection

Key Actions

  • Specialist biosecurity science teams

  • National biosecurity data and modelling platform

  • Strengthened oversight and governance

  • Expanded climate and ecosystem risk analysis

Outcome: A more resilient, future‑focused biosecurity system.

 

3. A MODERN, RESILIENT BIOSECURITY WORKFORCE

Supporting the people who protect Australia’s agriculture and environment

Key Actions

  • Workforce wellbeing and retention programs

  • Specialist training pathways

  • Diversity and inclusion initiatives

  • Modern digital and scientific tools

Outcome: A strong, supported biosecurity workforce.

CONDENSED YEARLY COSTING MODEL — BIOSECURITY AUSTRALIA

Baseline + Uplift Investment Framework

 

BASELINE FUNDING (Already Provided)

  • Core biosecurity operations: $0.22B

  • Diagnostics, labs & surveillance: $0.08B

  • Border & compliance operations: $0.07B

Total Baseline Funding:

$0.37B per year

PHASE 1 — FOUNDATION (Years 1–2)

Annual uplift: $0.28B – $0.40B 2‑year uplift total: $0.56B – $0.80B

 

PHASE 2 — ACCELERATION (Years 2–4)

Annual uplift: $0.38B – $0.52B 3‑year uplift total: $1.14B – $1.56B

 

PHASE 3 — EXPANSION (Years 4–6)

Annual uplift: $0.48B – $0.65B 2‑year uplift total: $0.96B – $1.30B

 

PHASE 4 — FUTURE‑READY (Years 6–10)

Annual uplift: $0.62B – $0.85B 4‑year uplift total: $2.48B – $3.40B

 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SUMMARY

6‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $2.66B – $3.66B

  • Baseline: $2.22B

Total 6‑Year Investment:

$4.88B – $5.88B

10‑YEAR TOTAL

  • Uplift: $4.74B – $6.66B

  • Baseline: $3.70B

Total 10‑Year Investment:

$8.44B – $10.36B