The National Biosecurity Committee (NBC) met on 19 and 20 March 2025 in Canberra. The meeting was co-chaired by Justine Saunders (Deputy Secretary, Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and Rachel Chay (Deputy Director General & Chief Biosecurity Officer, Biosecurity Queensland, Department of Primary Industries).
Key discussion themes and outcomes
Strategic environment, strategy and priorities and NBC reform
On the first day, the NBC identified strategic risks, challenges and opportunities for the national biosecurity system – at the global, regional and local level – and how these issues shape biosecurity priorities and decision-making. At a high level these risks and challenges include extreme weather events, biodiversity, increasing movement of people and goods with associated economic, trade, and geopolitical implications, the rapid pace of technological change, and compliance with biosecurity requirements. In this context, there are opportunities for harnessing data and analytics, fostering partnerships and information sharing, and supporting the role of local communities.
NBC members agreed to having a dedicated annual strategic threat and risk discussion, informed by horizon scanning and a joined-up view across the jurisdictions.
Informed by key strategic risks and opportunities, the NBC discussed key priorities for 2025 including delivery against the National Biosecurity Strategy (NBS) Action Plan, Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB), and Agriculture Ministers’ key priorities.
The NBC received a strategic update from Stuart Anderson, Deputy Director-General Biosecurity New Zealand, highlighting common issues confronted by the New Zealand and Australian biosecurity systems.
The NBC agreed the next steps in reforming its functions and governance to ensure it is delivering on its mandate as the strategic national leadership group for Australia’s biosecurity system. This includes streamlined and strengthened NBC governance and transparency supported by an NBC communications plan to better reach key stakeholders and communities.
Recognising the increasing complexity and cost of national emergency biosecurity responses, the NBC agreed next steps to address key policy issues, including the effectiveness of the emergency biosecurity response deeds for all signatories; current challenges of cost-sharing; and opportunities for alignment with the upcoming 5-yearly reviews of the Emergency Plant Pest Response Deed (EPPRD) and National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA).
NBC subcommittee updates and other national capability technical issues
On the second day, the Bureau of Meteorology presented to the committee on how modern systems and capabilities can translate weather, climate, and water forecasts into useable risk analysis to better inform strategic and operational biosecurity decisions across the biosecurity system. The NBC undertook to work with jurisdictions on leveraging these systems and capabilities.
The NBC was briefed by Plant Health Australia (PHA) and Animal Health Australia (AHA) on their respective work plans and preparation for the upcoming EPPRD review and progress in implementing findings of the 5-year review of the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement.
The NBC received updates on planning, preparedness, and research activities for high-risk pest and disease threats such as High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza, and Lumpy Skin Disease, among others, through the NBC plant, animal, marine and environmental sub-committees.
The NBC discussed the psycho-social impacts of major biosecurity emergencies on communities and noted ongoing research to help inform improved biosecurity communications and community engagement.
The NBC received briefings from the National Plant Health Surveillance Program, the National Horse Traceability Implementation Taskforce, and the Australian Mediterranean and Queensland Fruit Fly Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) facilities.
The NBC will next meet face to face in September 2025 in Victoria, and virtually as required in the interim.
The National Biosecurity Committee is responsible for managing a national, strategic approach to biosecurity threats relating to plant and animal pests and diseases, marine and aquatic pests, and the impact of these on agricultural production, the environment, community wellbeing and social amenity. The Committee provides advice to the Agriculture Senior Officials Committee and the Agriculture Minister’s Forum on national biosecurity issues, and on progress in implementing the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity.
For more information, visit the National Biosecurity Committee’s website, hosted by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.