24 May 2023
Purpose
This Industry Advice Notice (IAN) is to invite the plant exports industry to attend a webinar on Thursday, 01 June 2023 at 1:30PM AEST about the new Biosecurity Protection Levy.
Summary of changes and key points
- The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system with long-term sustainable funding to help meet the cost of sustainably funding the biosecurity system, a new biosecurity protection levy on all domestic agriculture, fisheries and forestry producers will commence on 1 July 2024.
- This levy seeks a modest contribution to the cost of the Commonwealth biosecurity effort to prevent pests and diseases entering Australia.
- We held a webinar on Friday, 19 May 2023 to provide information about the recent announcements at Budget relating to sustainable funding for biosecurity.
- The Biosecurity Funding Sustainability Division will be running a second webinar to discuss the Australian Government’s biosecurity sustainable funding budget measures and answer questions on specific aspects of the biosecurity protection levy via Microsoft Teams on Thursday, 01 June 2023 at 1:30PM AEST.
- All industry representatives are encouraged to participate. To register for the webinar, please see the Eventbrite invitation.
- A recording of the webinar will also be made available.
Background
The 2023-24 Federal Budget delivers the Australian Government’s election commitment to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system with long-term sustainable funding; away from past reliance on stop-gap measures.
This involves new funding of over $1b over 4 years and $267m per year ongoing from 2027-28.
While more dedicated taxpayer funding than ever is being committed, the Government has asked risk creators and those who benefit from strong biosecurity protection to make additional contributions. This will see taxpayers, importers, international travellers and domestic producers all contributing.
We will commence formal industry consultation next month to finalise design details and associated implementation arrangements. This will include working with producers and collection agents to ensure the administrative cost of implementation is as low as possible.
Information relating to the Budget 2023-24 Sustainable Funding for a strong biosecurity system can be found on the Have Your Say website.
Industry and stakeholder enquiries
Industry and stakeholders seeking further information or wishing to be engaged in future consultation can send their enquiries to us at Biosecurity Sustainable Funding.
Contact information
If you have any questions regarding this IAN please email Biosecurity Sustainable Funding.
Desley Darby
Acting Assistant Secretary
Biosecurity Sustainable Funding Project