The Minns Labor Government has released the state's most advanced Biosecurity Action Plan to protect landscapes, livestock and crops from pests, weeds and biosecurity threats to ensure our $20 billion per annum primary industries sector can increase its economic growth.
Australia and NSW are under pressure from complex and costly biosecurity threats, and it is critical that the state's biosecurity system is strong, effective and responsive now and into the future.
The Minns Government has made it clear that strengthening the state's resilience and protection against biosecurity threats is a priority. This has been demonstrated by establishing NSW's first Independent Biosecurity Commissioner and $1.05 billion funding in this year's budget.
To ensure that NSW has the best biosecurity system available the Minns Government has commissioned a comprehensive review of biosecurity programs, governance and performance.
In a two-pronged approach the Natural Resources Commission reviewed invasive species management, and the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner examined compliance, enforcement and governance performance to recommend improvements for pest and weed management.
In response to these reviews, the Minns Government has designed a system wide improvement that will be guided through the new Biosecurity Action Plan over 2025 and 2026 to enable swift and effective work that includes the following:
- Establish a State Biosecurity Committee to enable a more rapid and better coordinated cross-government approach to biosecurity, and response to outbreaks and emergencies. The Committee will also produce a State Biosecurity Strategy that all government agencies will play a role in implementing.
- Strengthen surveillance, diagnostics and emergency responses by training 200 additional staff to respond to biosecurity emergencies, increase research efforts and upgrade the state's primary biosecurity research centre.
- Improve biosecurity compliance across industries and landholders by enhancing the Government's efforts in inspections, audits, investigations and enforcement.
- Implement a new statewide invasive species plan delivering multi-year resourcing, better coordination of agencies' programs, and prioritise reduction of biosecurity risks at a landscape scale.
- Transition to a $40.7 million four-year Weeds Action Program that provides greater certainty for Local Control Authorities and improves weed management outcomes.
- Increase education and awareness for businesses, land managers and producers so they better understand their biosecurity responsibilities with clear regulatory guidelines.
Visit the Biosecurity Action Plan NSW.
The NSW Government's response to the NRC's report is available on the NRC's website and the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner's reports and the Government's responses can be found at the Commissioner's website.
Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty said:
"Biosecurity is a Minns Government priority and we are now releasing this Biosecurity Action Plan to further evolve the state's system to become the best available and leading the way not just in Australia but globally.
"While we have already delivered the state's first independent Biosecurity Commissioner, the first feral pig coordinator, a historic $1.05 billion in funding and $40.7 million, four-year funding for the Weeds Action Program, we know there is more work to do.
"The former Government left our biosecurity system in a terrible mess and underfunded, and the Minns Government has stepped up to increase funding and brought in expert advice to reform this critical area of endeavour.
"This highly practical and measurable plan demonstrates our commitment to protecting our primary industries from biosecurity threats, by strengthening our surveillance and compliance, boosting research, and increasing support for farmers and landholders.
"Biosecurity is everyone's responsibility, and this Action Plan frames how government agencies, businesses and private landholders can better comply with their biosecurity duties and build the most effective biosecurity system possible.
"While we have been developing this plan, the Minns Government has got on with the job of cracking down on non-compliant businesses, eradicating feral pigs and giving regional councils the funding they need to combat noxious weeds plaguing paddocks and riverbanks."
