COVID-19 proves Australia's biosecurity increasingly at risk: report

 NACA Feature, biosecurity, national security,

A Quarantine Inspection Service dog sniffs out fruit and other prohibited items at Sydney International Airport. Source: AAP

Australia's already strong biosecurity system may need a big shake-up in order to cope with the future risk of disease outbreaks.


A report from the national science agency warns despite Australia's global reputation as a high-quality exporter, better coordination is needed to keep up with increasing global biosecurity threats.

Australia's biosecurity protection has been praised with the C-S-I-R-O naming it as among the best systems in the world.

But the government science agency fears billion-dollar industries are still at risk from biosecurity threats.

The report into Australia's biosecurity futures states in the five years to 2017, the amount of biosecurity material intercepted on its way into Australia almost doubled.

Plant Health Australia's chief executive, Sarah Corcoran, explains how biosecurity works.

Ms Corcoran says consumers and trading partners want to know more about the products they are purchasing.

And as the coronavirus pandemic has shown, the threat of zoonotic diseases can have drastic effects globally.

CSIRO Director of Health and Biosecurity, Dr Rob Grenfell, says human health is closed linked to animals and any weakness triggers widespread vulnerability.

Dr Grenfell says collaborative national action needs to be taken immediately because change takes time to implement.

Modelling shows even if investment for interventions is almost tripled by 2025, there will still be a rise in the residual biosecurity risk.

The report suggests international innovation against biosecurity should be an urgent priority.

The report also recommends better collaboration with Indigenous organisations.

She says shared responsibility will future-proof Australia's biosecurity system against further risks.

The recommendations also include better data-sharing across supply chains and supporting business opportunities for biosecurity.

You can stay up to date on coronavirus in your language at sbs.com.au/coronavirus


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