Catalysing Australia's Biosecurity

Thanks to our strong biosecurity system, Australia is free from many of the world's most damaging pests and diseases. This system protects over $50 billion in tourism our 73.5 billion dollar agricultural sector 1.6 million Australian jobs across the supply chain, Australia's $6.5 trillion worth of environmental assets and our way of life.

In an increasingly connected world, the threats and impacts from pest breeds and diseases are growing. It is estimated that invasive species currently cost Australia around $24.5 billion a year. Outbreaks abroad highlight the impact on agriculture. People movement and business activities, certain by security threats, are already being felt in Australia. Future incursions could damage our way of life. The possibility of incursion is always present. We cannot be complacent.

We need to evolve our bio security system to address the growing threats and impacts of pests, weeds and diseases, CSIRO and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry are working together with government, industry and the Community to support the Commonwealth biosecurity 2030 road map. And the national bio security strategy. Our goal is to improve long term national bio security outcomes by delivering innovative technologies, digital systems and capabilities that transform performance by 2030.

We will do this by working with a broad range of stakeholders across the biosecurity system to deliver tools and technologies. That enable rapid pest and weed detection and identification. On farm disease diagnosis and step change, our capacity to prepare for and respond to incursions and reduce existing impacts. Together, we are catalysing Australia's biosecurity.

[Image appears of a view looking over a scrubby mountainous area and then images move through of a car travelling down a dirt road, a kangaroo, and Dr Andy Sheppard talking and text appears: Dr Andy Sheppard, CSIRO]

Dr Andy Sheppard: Australia is an island continent with a very unique flora and fauna which attracts tourists from around the world. 

[Image changes to show Dr Sheppard talking and then the image changes to show a rear view of a male working in a laboratory]

So, it’s vitally important that Australia has a biosecurity system to protect that wildlife. 

[Image changes to show a close view of a male syringing liquid into a sample container and then the image changes to show a close view of a male looking into a microscope] 

But we also have a globally driven export agricultural industry. 

[Images move through to show Dr Sheppard talking to the camera, an aerial view of a herd of cattle, and then a close view of a herd of cattle]

And the biosecurity system is also vitally important to ensure that Australians’ agricultural industries can grow and attract the best global prices.

[Image changes to show Sarah Corcoran talking to the camera and then the image changes to show a side view of a male in a hot house looking at a leaf through a magnifying glass and text appears: Sarah Corcoran, CEO, Plant Health Australia]

Sarah Corcoran: Australia’s Biosecurity Future Report provides us with a platform to go forward with our shared responsibility and to bring together partnerships with government, industry and the communities so that we protect Australia’s agricultural industries and environment into the future.

[Image changes to show Kathleen Plowman talking to the camera and text appears: Kathleen Plowman, CEO, Animal Health Australia]

Kathleen Plowman: Business as usual approach, scaling up on what we currently do, will not meet this growing and cumulative biosecurity risk that we face. 

[Image changes to show an aerial view of a herd of cattle and then image changes to show a close view of a farmer on a motorbike watching a mob of sheep]

There are more and more pests, weeds, diseases entering, or at our borders. 

[Image changes to show Kathleen talking to the camera]

We don’t have the luxury of time. We need to be pro-active and we need to come together and look at where are those priorities and where do we need to be investing. 

[Image changes to show an aerial view of trucks move through a shipping yard and then the image changes to show forklifts and cranes moving in a shipping yard]

If we want to be the most bio-secure trading nation that’s respected globally, we’re going to have to do a significant transformational change. 

[Image changes to show Andreas Glanznig talking to the camera and text appears: Andreas Glanznig, CEO, Centre for Invasive Species Solutions]

Andreas Glanznig: We need an innovation-centred transformation of our national biosecurity system if we’re going to keep Australia on the front foot. 

[Images move through to show a side view male syringing a liquid into a sample pot in a sample case and then the camera zooms in on the sample]

This is all about avoiding future impacts, avoiding future risks. 

[Image changes to show Andreas talking to the camera]

We can transform our national biosecurity system to put Australia on the front foot and that’s a goal worth fighting for.

[Music plays and the image changes to show the Plant Health Australia, Centre for Invasive Species Solutions, Animal Health Australia and CSIRO logos and text appears above: Read Australia’s Biosecurity Future at csiro.au/biosecurityreport]

[Image changes to show the CSIRO logo and text on a white screen: CSIRO, Australia’s National Science Agency]