Safeguards to protect Australia’s farming communities from exotic pests and diseases are being boosted with a new $371 million investment to strengthen biosecurity.
The package complements significant reforms the Australian Government has committed to across the biosecurity system to ensure it is modern, efficient and keeps Australia safe from risks such as African swine fever, khapra beetle or foot and mouth disease.
Minister for Agriculture, Drought and Emergency Management David Littleproud said protecting our disease-free status delivers access to premium global markets and generates real, significant benefits for agriculture.
“We are protecting industry as well as rural and regional communities like those in Barker that depend on it, and ensuring agriculture continues playing a leading role in Australia’s national economic recovery,” Minister Littleproud said.
Member for Barker, Tony Pasin, said Australia’s biosecurity system protects $53 billion in agricultural exports and 1.6 million Australian jobs across the supply chain.
“Biosecurity plays a critical role in reducing risk and shaping our nation to become one of the few countries in the world to remain free from the world’s most severe pests and diseases,” Mr Pasin said.
“It provides critical protection for our agricultural industries, expected to be worth $71.2 billion this year, and the health of our communities, environment and the national economy.”
The package comes immediately after a record $888 million Australian Government investment in biosecurity and export services in 2020-21 and includes:
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