Federal budget 2021: $371 million biosecurity boost a win for agriculture

The fight to protect Aussie ag from overseas pests and disease is getting a massive boost, with more than $370m to be announced for a new biosecurity package. Here’s how it will be spent.

Australia’s biosecurity system is getting hefty federal budget boost. Picture: Matt Loxton

Australia’s biosecurity system will get a $371 million cash boost in next week’s federal budget, in a bid to protect agriculture from overseas pests and disease.

The significant package includes almost $100 million to screen for biosecurity risks offshore, another investment in preventing an outbreak of African swine fever, and a national-scale preparedness exercise to “stress-test” our biosecurity regimen.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison will make the announcement Tuesday morning in Rockhampton at Beef Week, the nation’s premier beef industry showcase, alongside Agriculture Minister David Littleproud.

“Protecting our borders is as much about protecting our livestock, crops and environment from diseases that have the potential to devastate them and the livelihoods they support, as it does the health of Australians during COVID-19 or protecting Australia’s national security,” Mr Morrison said in a statement.

“This investment is about building a protective ring around Australia to safeguard our industry as well as the rural and regional communities that depend on it.”

The package comes after fragments of both ASF and foot and mouth disease were found in pork products seized at Australia’s international mail centres earlier this year, while last week the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment warned international outbreaks of Lumpy skin disease – a disease affecting cattle and buffalo – were spreading rapidly.

The National Farmers’ Federation had been seeking a biosecurity investment of up to $400 million in this year’s budget, warning an outbreak of FMD could cost Australia up to $50 billion over 10 years, while an outbreak of ASF could cost more than $2 billion in just five years.

The funding includes:

$96.8 million for the offshore treatment provider assurance program, and technology to improve identification of containers for intervention;

$67.4 million to boost Australia’s biosecurity preparedness and response, including a national “stress-test” and national surveillance information system;

$58.6 million to expand on ASF prevention, including frontline screening;

$25.5 million to improve speed and accuracy of pest and disease identification at the border;

$34.6 million in research and improved field tools; and 

$31.2 million on better managing biosecurity risks in incoming international mail.

Further funding will go toward trialling new screening technologies of incoming and outgoing passengers, expanding the maritime reporting system, and public awareness campaigns.

It is unknown at this stage how the package will be funded. Last year, the Federal Government was forced to abandon plans to raise $325 million by putting a biosecurity levy on imports coming in via sea, following protest by the shipping industry.

Mr Littleproud said the comprehensive package would complement reforms – such as increasing penalties for breaching biosecurity laws – aimed at making the biosecurity system more modern and efficient.

However, he said that states would also be expected to pitch in, telling Sky News: “It’s important we understand it’s an integrated biosecurity system, not only at our borders but within the country as well. And this is going to make sure that we protect not only agriculture, we’re protecting the environment as well.”

In 2020, more than 2.5 million container arrivals, 19,000 vessels and 60 million mail items arrived on Australian shores.

A CSIRO report released last November found Australia’s biosecurity system needed to be enhanced if it was to protect against the growing risk of pest and disease incursions, which had been particularly highlighted by the 2019-20 bushfire season and COVID-19 pandemic.