The Albanese Labor Government acknowledges the start of National Biosecurity Week today which is an important opportunity to celebrate our world-class biosecurity system which helps protect the Australian way of life.
Since coming to office, the Albanese Government has delivered over $2 billion in additional biosecurity funding, helping safeguard our agriculture industry, our precious environment and the national economy.
The theme of this year's National Biosecurity Week, 'protecting what we value' highlights the important role that every Australian plays in our biosecurity system.
Ordinary Australians are our biosecurity system's best asset and our first line of defence.
This has been underscored in our nation's response to the arrival of H5 bird flu, with over 24,000 calls to the national hotline to make reports of potential bird flu detections.
This extraordinary community surveillance effort has helped authorities and experts track the spread of H5 bird flu across the country, protecting our precious wildlife and our agriculture and poultry system.
The Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity, and additional funding has strengthened biosecurity systems at the border.
Between 1 January 2026 and 31 July 2026, there were more than 195,000 interceptions of biosecurity goods from travellers at Australia's airports and more than 53,000 in mail centres.
Biosecurity officers made over 70,000 detections of goods after x-raying travellers' baggage and detector dog teams have detected and stopped more than 23,000 biosecurity goods from entering the country.
Quotes attributable to Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:
"As National Biosecurity Week kicks off, I want to thank every Australian who contributes to our world-class biosecurity system.
"The incredible response since the first detection of H5 bird flu, with over 24,000 calls to our national hotline, underscores the role all Australians play in helping to protect our way of life.
"This effort of course is backed by our incredible biosecurity officers across the country who work tirelessly at our borders and in airports and mail centres to keep threats out.
"We've delivered over $2 billion in additional biosecurity resourcing since 2022 to back this effort because our Government will never compromise on biosecurity."
