Australians can now nominate individuals, groups and businesses who have made an outstanding contribution to protect our $81 billion agricultural industry and the health of our animals, plants and people for a 2022 Australian Biosecurity Award (ABA).
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Australia's Director of Biosecurity, Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO, said producers, researchers and community groups are doing vital work to help protect Australia's biosecurity.
"Biosecurity risks are becoming more complex and harder to manage for many reasons, including the increasing spread of pests and diseases overseas and an increase in cargo and mail volumes," Mr Metcalfe said.
"Australia's biosecurity system protects $50 billion in inbound tourism, $64 billion in agricultural exports and 1.6 million Australian jobs.
"It safeguards our human, animal and plant health against potentially devastating exotic pests and diseases such as foot and mouth disease which would be devastating for our livestock industries if it were to reach our shores.
"The Australian Biosecurity Awards highlight the incredible and diverse work of Australians who maintain and improve Australia's biosecurity system in the face of increasing and evolving threats."
Last year's winners include a biosecurity team that helped thwart the illegal import and sale of prickly-pear cactus into Queensland, a nursery whose biosecurity innovation improved business quality and efficiency, and an industry, community and government partnership that is managing fruit fly and plant health in Victoria.
There are eight award categories in 2022:
- Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award
- Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation
- Industry Award
- Government Award
- Environmental Biosecurity Award
- Community Award
- Education Award
- Farm Biosecurity Producer of The Year Award - jointly presented with Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia.
Nominations close on 22 August 2022 at 5pm AEST, and winners will be announced in November. For more information on the 2022 Australian Biosecurity Awards, including how to submit a nomination, visit: agriculture.gov.au/ABA
Fast facts
- The Australian Biosecurity Awards (ABAs) recognise individuals, groups and organisations that have shown a commitment to supporting and promoting Australia's biosecurity and the systems that uphold it.
- The ABAs have been held annually since 2005.
- Some of last year's winners include:
- Dr John Virtue received the Dr David Banks Biosecurity Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition for being an expert across the biosecurity management field, initiating and leading interventions against pests and diseases through prevention, eradication, containment and strategic management measures.
- Ms Sarah Corcoran received the Dr Kim Ritman Award for Science and Innovation for delivering many significant eradication programs for agricultural and environmental pests. She had also overseen investment in infrastructure and biosecurity research, including disease detection, management and response.
- Pohlmans Nursery (QLD) received the Farm Biosecurity Producer of the Year Award for its contribution to the development of BioSecure HACCP, a national industry on-farm biosecurity program.
- Queensland Port Authorities and Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries received the Industry Award for their port authorities partnerships with Biosecurity Queensland to voluntarily implement the Queensland Seaports Environmental DNA (eDNA) Surveillance program (Q-SEAS program) for early warning detection of invasive marine species.
- A full list and more detail about last year's winners can be found in the Australian Biosecurity Awards 2021 winners page.
