Coalition promises biosecurity funding, import container levy at NTCA conference

The Nationals leader has promised more biosecurity funding if elected, along with a new container levy that taxes importers, not local farmers. See what the local industry had to say.

The coalition will legislate Credit: Australian Livestock Exporters’ Council.

The coalition has promised more biosecurity funding if elected, along with a new container levy that taxes importers, not local farmers.

National Party Leader David Littleproud made the announcement at the Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association Conference in Darwin on Thursday.

The policy would legislate minimum biosecurity funding for the first time in Australia.

“In today’s terms, biosecurity funding should be around $900m, but this government is only spending a bit over $800m,” he said.

“That continues to put our biosecurity system under pressure.

“That means Lumpy Skin Disease, that means Foot and Mouth Disease – it would cost the economy over $50 billion if we were to get these diseases.

“So not only are we committing this to this level of funding, we’re going to legislate to make sure that future governments, no matter the political persuasion, are locked in to adhering to this.”

Nationals Leader David Littleproud speaks outside the NTCA Conference in Darwin on March 20, 2025. The coalition has promised to legislate minimum funding for biosecurity and to introduce an import container levy. Picture: Fia Walsh.

Last month the Albanese government scrapped its proposed biosecurity levy, which would have collected $48m a year from domestic producers, drawing heavy criticism from farming groups.

The coalition said it would instead introduce an Import Container Levy by Sea and Air, adding to the existing fees and charges already paid by importers.

Mr Littleproud said the reform would not impact prices at the supermarket checkout.

“You’re going to have to pay for (processing) either way … we’re simply saying that instead of Australian farmers having to pay that price, it needs to be the importer,” he said.

Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association incoming chief executive Romy Carey said the NTCA had long called for a fair and sustainable approach to biosecurity funding, where the risk creators were responsible for funding its management.

“The Import Container Levy is a practical solution to ensure farmers aren’t left carrying the cost,” Mrs Carey said.

“Biosecurity can’t be funded in cycles of crisis – we need a stable, long-term model that protects the NT cattle industry and secures Australia’s reputation for producing safe, high-quality beef.”

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Federal Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the Albanese government had delivered more than $1bn in a sustainable biosecurity funding model to protect against the threat of pests and disease.

“We now have importers paying their fair share in a way that no government has ever done before,” she said.

“Unlike the poorly considered and badly implemented container levy plan from the Coalition, our biosecurity funding model is sustainable and does not threaten our $70bn agricultural export trade arrangements.

“The Coalition left our biosecurity system in a mess – insecure and underfunded.

“They slashed biosecurity funding, leaving us highly vulnerable to diseases like FMD that would cripple livestock industries.

“Now they’ve foreshadowed cuts to biosecurity officers if they are elected which could devastate our nation’s agriculture industry.”

Originally published as Coalition promises biosecurity funding, import container levy at NTCA conference