Australia's ability to protect itself from pests and disease is at the centre of a new national strategy agreed to by federal, state and territory ministers.
Addressing the National Rural Press Club in Canberra today, federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt will release the first National Biosecurity Strategy.
"The biosecurity risks we're facing as a nation are closer and they're more threatening than we've ever seen before and that's partly as a result of climate change, shifting trade and travel patterns, different land uses," Senator Watt told the ABC.
"There's a range of factors we're dealing with now as a country that we haven't seen before and that is increasing the risk of biosecurity [issues] for our farmers and their products."
The risks include the threat of African swine fever, lumpy skin disease and foot and mouth disease, which are currently spreading through nearby Asian countries.
Senator Watt said the new strategy would ensure governments and industry worked together to protect Australia.
"By aligning all the key players, we can ensure that everyone [is] working together to counter the biosecurity threats we face," he said.
"Australia's biosecurity system is a critical national asset and shared responsibility, and this strategy is for all Australians."
According to the strategy, Australia receives 115 million parcels through its mail centres each year, with 2.6 million shipping containers arriving at the country's ports.
Call for sustainable funding model
The strategy sets out six priority areas for governments, including "shared biosecurity culture, stronger partnerships, highly skilled workforce, coordinated preparedness, integration supported by technology, research and data; and sustainable investment".
"We will ensure funding and investment is sufficient, co-funded, transparent, targeted to our priorities and sustainable for the long term," the strategy states.
It does not make clear how biosecurity services will be funded.
The National Farmers' Federation has long called for a sustainable funding model for Australia's biosecurity services.
The former Coalition government axed plans to introduce a levy on shipping containers that would have raised $325 million over three years to fund biosecurity.
Speaking on the release of the strategy, NFF president Fiona Simson said biosecurity had to be a priority.
"A coordinated and well-resourced and innovative biosecurity system is fundamental to the success of our agriculture industries and in supporting the goal of becoming a $100 billion sector by 2030," she said.
The National Biosecurity Strategy comes after a National Biosecurity Statement was agreed to in 2018.
"I'll give credit to the former government for beginning this process," Senator Watt said.
"What's really important though is that governments don't just have a good idea, they actually deliver a good idea.
"I've made finalising this strategy and reaching collaboration with the states and territories an early priority for me as the new minister."
Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the government was claiming credit for work of the Coalition.
“The previous Coalition government started work on this strategy in October 2021 and effectively completed it before the federal election in May this year, so this ‘national first’ has been none of the doing of the current government," Mr Littleproud said.
More funding for Indonesia to act on foot and mouth
Senator Watt used his address to a sold-out Rural National Press Club to announce a further $10 million support package for Indonesia to fight foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease.
"This package will provide more urgently needed vaccines and technical support," he said.
Last month the Australian government committed $14 million to bolster defence against the spread of livestock disease in Indonesia, Timor-Leste and Papua New Guinea.
That commitment included provisions for 1 million foot and mouth vaccines for Indonesia, which are yet to arrive in Jakarta.
Last week, Senator Watt said those first 1 million vaccines were expected to arrive in Indonesia "very soon".
