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EADRA roles and responsibilities

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The Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) relies on the active participation of all signatories to manage biosecurity risks and ensure a rapid, coordinated, and effective response to emergency animal disease (EAD) outbreaks.

In addition to these responsibilities, signatories (including AHA) are obliged to be prepared and ready for an emergency animal disease response. See Normal Commitments for details.

Signatory roles and responsibilities

Animal Health Australia (AHA)

  • manages the EADRA on behalf of all signatories
  • coordinates workshops and updates to the EADRA
  • facilitates communication and decision-making during responses
  • administers cost-sharing arrangements and maintains supporting documents
  • convenes meetings and working groups of relevant parties when required
  • develops and delivers training for potential Liaison Livestock Industry representatives and members and advisors of the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease and National Management Group

Australian Government

  • provides national coordination
  • chairs the national committees that determine how the response is managed
  • participates in cost-sharing of eligible response activities and underwrites the industry share of eligible response costs
  • supports international trade and biosecurity policy alignment

State and territory governments

  • lead the on-ground response to EAD outbreaks within their jurisdictions
  • administer compensation payments under local legislation
  • maintain surveillance and diagnostic capabilities
  • implement and enforces legal orders for movement and other biosecurity controls
  • collaborate with industry and other jurisdictions during responses
  • funds response activities within the state or territory and submits claims for cost sharing
  • participates in the cost-sharing of eligible response activities undertaken in other jurisdictions

Industry signatories

  • represent livestock sectors affected by listed EADs
  • participate in decision-making through empowered representatives
  • share in the costs of eligible response activities
  • support preparedness, training, and communication within their sectors
  • nominate personnel for response roles (e.g. LLIs, CCEAD and NMG representatives)

Local control centres

  • coordinate operational aspects of the response at the local level
  • manage compensation claims and valuation processes
  • serve as the primary point of contact for affected producers
  • implement movement control, biosecurity, surveillance, and animal welfare measures

Veterinarians and producers

  • play a frontline role in early detection and reporting of EADs
  • comply with response measures and biosecurity protocols
  • work with authorities to support containment, eradication and recovery

Contacts and communications

AHA maintains a list of contacts for all Parties of the EADRA. Formal communications relating to EADRA activities and processes are circulated via these contacts. The role and responsibilities of each contact type is listed below.

Contact typeRole and responsibilities
Signatory

  • Has the authority to sign off on EADRA changes.
  • Can delegate their authority to a person or position within their organisation (Authorised Signatory).
  • Should consult internally and seek approval from senior leaders or ministers if a proposed change could have major financial, policy, or political impacts.
Authorised Signatory
  • Appointed by the Signatory to act on their behalf under clause 18.2(b) of the EADRA.
  • Their appointment can be time-limited or ongoing until updated.
  • Like the Signatory, they’re expected to consult internally and get the necessary approvals for significant changes.
Contact Officer for Notices
  • Receives all formal and legal notices under the EADRA (as outlined in clause 32).
  • Responsible for monitoring incoming EADRA correspondence and making sure their signatory or authorised signatory is aware of and responds to correspondence or invitations in a timely way.
  • Their details are listed in Schedule 2 of the Agreement and can be updated each year.
  • The main point of contact for official communications between AHA and the Signatory.
Technical Contacts
  • People with relevant expertise in emergency animal disease response and the EADRA.
  • Copied into official EADRA communications.
  • May represent their organisation in EADRA working groups etc.
  • Responsible for briefing their signatory or authorised signatory on EADRA issues or correspondence.
  • Responsible for consulting internally to bring representative viewpoint of their organisation to a working group or workshop.