Joint Communiqué
14-15 November 2024, Melbourne, Australia
Officials from the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) and the New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries (NZ MPI) met face-to-face on 14-15 November 2024 for the twentieth meeting of the Australia New Zealand Biosecurity Cooperation (ANZBC).
The ANZBC visited biosecurity laboratories and post quarantine screening facilities at two locations – the DAFF Melbourne Regional Office and the Post Entry Quarantine facility on the northern perimeter of Melbourne. Members were briefed on laboratory design, new technologies, and developments in diagnostics and surveillance across the border continuum.
The ANZBC focussed on areas where it can harmonise, and progress strategic opportunities to cooperate to deal with biosecurity priorities, offshore, at the border and post border. Members acknowledged the increasingly complex biosecurity landscape and global trade environment and the need to work together to identify key outcomes and priorities that support the objectives of the ANZBC.
Members identified shared strategic priorities including:
- Trans-Tasman seamless travel
- Enhancing trade and economic growth
- Supporting the Pacific region
- Joint engagement through international forums
- Marine biosecurity
- Overarching preparedness and response, including strategic, operational, and technical capabilities.
Members welcomed the opportunity to work collaboratively on these priorities and requested a rapid mapping of efforts already underway, so opportunities can be fully recognised.
ANZBC also agreed to share knowledge and research on risk assessment and review processes, to leverage synergies between the two countries.
Members affirmed the role of the ANZBC in providing leadership in response to dynamic and evolving risks. To this end, the ANZBC resolved to hold a mid-year check-in on strategic priorities, progress and to consider difficult issues and challenges when they arise.
The ANZBC restated the importance of establishing a trans-Tasman seamless journey. Both countries agreed to continue to share insights around implementing streamlined processes and technology. Members noted the opportunities to build shared capability and capacity in these areas.
The ANZBC acknowledged the significant work of both countries to prepare and respond to animal and plant pest and disease threats.
Each country shared insights of their HPAI readiness and response, acknowledging the considerable cooperation underway in relation to this threat. Australia and New Zealand will establish a dedicated coordination mechanism for HPAI, to enhance connectivity and the sharing of information for intelligence purposes between the two agencies.
The forum agreed to continue to align and coordinate efforts as appropriate in the Pacific region.
Each of the ANZBC technical working groups reported they are working collaboratively and achieving practical outcomes. ANZBC discussed and noted the need for collective action by the working groups on some cross-cutting issues. For example, risk assessments for plant and animal pests and diseases and issues with increasing low value cargo volume arrivals.
The ANZBC discussed and agreed in-principle to form a new working group to focus on marine biosecurity including biofouling and ballast water. Members noted the need for collective action to assess and tackle increasing marine biosecurity risks.
The ANZBC anticipates meeting again in person in late 2025, in New Zealand.