There is still a fair bit of discussion on the latest federal government budget announcements, including the addition of a new biosecurity protection levy. Dr Samantha Allan and I were questioned at budget estimates on 29 May with the main line of questioning around our members’ thoughts (particularly industry) on this levy.  

As a representative of all of you, our members, I reiterated that further consultation with producers and industry is paramount and that if a biosecurity protection levy is implemented, we’d want to see it invested into post border activities, such as upskilling our workforce on the ground and enhancing our preparedness activities (two action items from six listed in the national biosecurity strategy).

I also noted that industry members were disappointed that livestock producers’ already significant and ongoing investment in biosecurity was not acknowledged in the budget narrative. Farmers benefit from a strong biosecurity system, and prevention is better than a cure, so ensuring money is going into post-border national activities, as well as pre-border activities, is key to a resilient biosecurity system.  

Many of you have noticed that funds raised through this new levy would go into consolidated revenue and not into specific biosecurity activities; this is something we will raise further with the Department. 

Outside of the budget, you may have seen on social media that a number of our members attended the latest World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) General Assembly as part of the Australian delegation with Dr Mark Schipp. Our current and incoming Industry Forum (IF) Chairs (Adam Dawes and Mary Wu) were in attendance on behalf of IF and their respective organisations. They conveyed to us that many delegates were in awe of our animal health preparedness activities and the existence of an organisation that provides a link between industry and government in animal health and biosecurity to ensure that we can act quickly during an emergency animal disease outbreak.  

We look forward to hearing more from Adam, Mary, Mark and others on the outcomes of this Assembly. 

Thanks  

Kathleen