Environmental biosecurity stakeholder engagement

Environmental biosecurity aims to reduce the risk of invasive species entering and causing damage to Australia’s unique natural environment.

The environment is an irreplaceable, majestic and greatly loved asset providing immeasurable benefits for the entire nation to enjoy. It is because of this that we all have a role to play in protecting and enhancing the health of our environment.

Effective environmental biosecurity is only possible if we work together. It requires partnership and collaboration between governments, industry and the community working together to reduce the risk to Australia’s ecosystems from exotic pests, weeds and diseases. The Environmental Biosecurity Office engages with stakeholders from across Australia to build our capacity to prevent, detect and respond to environmental biosecurity risks. Our aim is to develop strong environmental biosecurity networks, improve awareness and education and encourage active participation in protecting our unique environment.

Engagement activities by Environmental Biosecurity Office include:

• hosting the annual environmental biosecurity webinar series
• supporting Australia’s membership of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)
• providing secretariat support for the Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group (EBAG)
• chairing the Environmental Biosecurity Interdepartmental Group (EBIG)
• driving collaboration through the Environmental Biosecurity Project Fund
• supporting citizen science networks in environmental biosecurity efforts.

Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group

The Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group (EBAG) is a sub-group of the Environment and Invasives Committee (EIC) . It provides a mechanism for environmental biosecurity stakeholders to discuss and provide advice to the EIC on environmental biosecurity policy and strategy, and other environmental biosecurity issues.

The group consists of government members and non-government members with a national and strategic environmental and/or community outlook.

Terms of Reference

Environmental Biosecurity Interdepartmental Group

The Environmental Biosecurity Interdepartmental Group (EBIG) has been established to ensure a whole-of-government approach on environmental biosecurity matters, and to better understand and identify opportunities to work together to support ongoing collaboration between the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).

EBIG will contribute towards recommendation 7 of the 2017 Priorities for Australia’s Biosecurity System report aimed at strengthening the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB).

Terms of Reference

Environmental biosecurity roundtables

From 2016-2020 the department held bi-annual environmental biosecurity roundtables in Canberra and elsewhere around Australia. The events attracted attendees from around the country representing all tiers of government, land and NRM organisations, researchers, conservation groups and leading plant and animal health bodies. During the events participants shared knowledge, built valuable networks and discussed how we can work together to protect Australia’s environment, way of life and clean, green reputation from the threat of exotic pests and diseases. The department continues to engage with these important stakeholders through its environmental biosecurity webinars and the Environmental Biosecurity Advisory Group (EBAG).

Reports on previous environmental roundtables