27 March 2023
Who does this notice affect?
Stakeholders in the import and shipping industries — including importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, vessel masters, biosecurity industry participants and shipping agents.
What has changed?
Purpose
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department) is proposing changes to fees and charges for biosecurity regulatory activity in 2023-24.
A public engagement process has commenced with the release of a consultation paper setting out the current cost to deliver regulatory activities, the department’s cost calculation methodology and the reasons for proposed changes to fees and charges for biosecurity activities.
Industry participants and interested parties affected by these changes are invited to review the consultation paper and make a submission on the department’s ‘Have Your Say’ platform by 5 pm (AEDT) 24 April 2023.
What is driving these changes?
The Australian and global economies have changed significantly and biosecurity threats and risks have increased since the biosecurity cost recovery arrangement was last reviewed in 2015.
Over this period, multiple factors have placed increased pressure on the department’s resources, including increasing and changing patterns of global trade, changing distribution of pests and diseases in nearby countries, and increased volume and complexity of imports. While the department has done its best to continue to support industry by delivering regulatory activities and working to minimise delays at the border, these factors coupled with increasing costs mean current funding for the arrangement is unsustainable.
To ensure the department continues to deliver biosecurity regulatory activities efficiently, adjustments need to be made to re-align regulatory fees and charges with the actual cost to deliver these activities – proposed from 1 July 2023.
This is an important first step supporting the development of a longer-term, sustainable funding and investment model for biosecurity.
We welcome your comments on this first step.
Further information
Enquires can be directed to BioCRIS@aff.gov.au