Key numbers in a snapshot:

• More than $1 billion in new biosecurity investments committed over the next four years, added to the $2 billion plus that had already been forecasted in October 2022.
• $845 million in new funding will be used to maintain biosecurity policy, operational and technical functions on a sustainable basis over four years from 2023-24, followed by $255 million per year ongoing from 2027-28.
• $40.6 million in new funding will be used for the Indigenous Ranger Biosecurity Program over the four years from 2023-24, and $12 million per year ongoing from 2027-28.
• $145.2 million will be provided over three years from 2023-24 for the Simplified Targeting and Enhanced Processing System (STEPS), a modern digital system to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of biosecurity clearance in cargo pathways.
• The cost of funding will be shared between taxpayers, importers, international travellers and producers through various fees and levy increases.
• A new biosecurity protection levy is to be implemented from July 1, 2024, which is approximately an extra 10% to what producers pay in levies now.

Funding to maintain Australia’s crucial biosecurity system was a key feature in the 2023 Federal Budget with agriculture set to be the beneficiary.

Finally, the sustainable funding model, which Animal Health Australia and others within the Biosecurity Collective first called for in 2019, to ensure our national biosecurity system can continue to protect our farmers livelihoods, our unique environment and our Australian way of life, has been delivered.

This budget measure will go a long way to ensure that the Australian biosecurity system has consistent and continued funding which will increase (or be indexed) into the future, halting the decline that has been evident in recent years. Naturally there will be a need for surge funding at times, which the Minister also acknowledged in his address at the Agricultural Industry Budget Breakfast at the National Press Club.

To pay for these funding increases, costs will be shared across both risk creators and beneficiaries – importers, international travellers, producers and taxpayers.

Kathleen Plowman, CEO of Animal Health Australia was delighted to see new investment methods in biosecurity to support sustainable funding but remains cautious around how it will be implemented and where exactly the funding will go.

“We are keen to learn and find out more about some of these new measures, particularly the biosecurity protection levy, including how it will be implemented and where in the system the funding will go – pre border, post border or both?

Kathleen Plowman

“We have already begun a conversation on behalf of our industry members with the Minister’s Office and the Department to learn more”.

“The exciting news is that the funding increases will be permanent, to ensure that biosecurity measures are long-term, sustainable and fit for the future.”

The budget factsheets do note that the Australian Government will work with industry to review and consider further reform to continue to deliver a strong and equitably funded biosecurity system that is ready for future challenges; in other words, these changes are not set and forget.

In other budget announcements relevant to our members, the government is also strengthening a national approach to animal welfare by investing $5 million over 4 years to renew the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy, restoring much needed national leadership to our nation’s approach to animal welfare.

We will continue to provide more information as it comes to light on this new funding announcement. You can also read the full DAFF budget detail here.