Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel

On 28 February 2024, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced that the Government is extending its commitment to transparency and accountability with the creation of a new Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel (the Panel). Details of the announcement are available in the Minister’s media release.

The Panel has been created to provide increased transparency for key contributors of biosecurity funding including producers and importers, and will build closer collaboration between government and key stakeholders, with regular meetings to share insights, discuss biosecurity priorities and explain spending decisions.

Panel members will be provided information about what revenue is being raised from producers and importers, how that money is being invested, in addition to updates on the rollout of the Sustainable Biosecurity Funding package measures.

The role of the Sustainable Biosecurity Funding Advisory Panel is to provide transparency of biosecurity expenditure and give biosecurity stakeholders – including producers and importers – genuine input into biosecurity priority setting for Australia’s biosecurity system.

The first meeting was held on 30 April 2024.

Panel membership

The Deputy Secretary Biosecurity, Operations and Compliance Group of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry chairs the Panel.

Membership of the Panel is drawn from major agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors, importers, environmental and research organisations.

Name	Role	Position	Organisation
Justine Saunders APM	Chair	Deputy Secretary, Biosecurity and Compliance Group	Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
Dr Mary Wu	Member	Chair of AHA Industry Forum	Animal Health Australia Industry Forum
Justin Toohey	Member	Animal Health Welfare and Biosecurity Advisor	Australian Dairy Farmers
Paco Tovar	Member	National Biosecurity Manager	Australian Forest Products Association
Cameron Brown	Member	Manager – Public Affairs	Australian Fresh Produce Alliance
Lee McLean	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Australian Grape and Wine
Margo Andrae	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Australian Pork Limited
Dr Chris Parker	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Cattle Australia
Prof. Andrew Robinson	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis
Prof. Brett Sutton	Member	Director of Health and Biosecurity	Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
Adam Kay	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Cotton Australia
Paul Zalai	Member	Director	Freight and Trade Alliance
Colin Bettles	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Grain Producers Australia
Shona Gawel	Member	Chief Executive Officer	GrainGrowers
Brad Leonard	Member	Manager – Border and Biosecurity	International Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association
Andrew Cox	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Invasive Species Council
Nathan Hancock	Member	Chair – PHA Industry Forum	Plant Health Australia Industry Forum
Veronica Papacosta	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Seafood Industry Australia
Bonnie Skinner	Member	Chief Executive Officer	Sheep Producers Australia
Jo Hall	Member	Chief Executive Officer	WoolProducers Australia