Proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy

The proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy and Charge (Biosecurity Protection Levy) is one component of the larger 2023-24 Budget measure ‘Strengthened and Sustainably Funded Biosecurity System’. Under this measure, funding of the Commonwealth biosecurity system is shared across general taxpayers, importers, and Australia Post, as well as a modest contribution from primary producers via the Biosecurity Protection Levy.

The bills that would provide for the Biosecurity Protection Levy framework are before the Senate. as a result, the required legislation is not in place for the levy to have commenced from 1 July 2024. This page provides an update on implementation, and work done to date.

Primary Producers and the Biosecurity Protection Levy

Primary producers, whether growing for the domestic market or exporting into premium overseas markets, benefit considerably from our strong biosecurity status. This is reflected in the high returns being secured from our export markets, with over 70 per cent of all Australian agricultural production being exported, estimated at $73.1 billion for 2024-25 (ABARES).

The proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy would ensure that those who directly benefit from Australia’s strong biosecurity make a modest and direct contribution to ensure the biosecurity system is sustainably funded into the future.

The Government recognises that many primary producers already invest in biosecurity through on-farm biosecurity activities. Producers also support Australia’s biosecurity system through investment in research and development, membership fees for Animal Health Australia and Plant Health Australia, and contributions to emergency responses under deed arrangements.

While these investments are important, they do not directly fund the cost of biosecurity activities undertaken at the border that prevent pest and disease incursions into Australia. These investments are not being replaced or duplicated by Commonwealth activities funded through the Biosecurity Protection Levy.

Proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy Legislation

The Bills that would provide for the imposition, collection and administration of the Biosecurity Protection Levy were introduced to Parliament on 28 February 2024:

• Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies Bill 2024
• Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Charges Bill 2024
• Agriculture (Biosecurity Protection) Levies and Charges Collection Bill 2024.

These Bills are before the Senate. The department remains committed to a sustainably funded biosecurity system. We will continue to work with Government in considering all options for a broad-based funding model to ensure a sustainably funded biosecurity system into the future.

Consultation Process and Levy Design

The development of the Bills was informed by extensive and targeted consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including peak farming bodies, state farming organisations, industry representative bodies, research and development corporations, current agricultural levy payers and their collection agents, software providers to primary industries, and members of the general public. Public consultation was held through the department’s online engagement platform between 22 August to 13 October 2023 in conjunction with meetings, presentations and forums.

The consultation paper provides a summary of the issues raised and an overview of how the government is addressing these. The department has published written responses received through the public consultation, where we have permission to do so, on our online engagement platform.

The Government listened to industry feedback and addressed key concerns with the proposed design regarding:

• equity and fairness of levy and charge rates
• whether implementation of the BPL would be in the existing agricultural levies system
• multiple imposition points for some commodities across the supply chain.

Changes to the design of the levy took these issues into account. Rates will be set using a common and equitable basis for all industry sector products and goods, and will not be set by reference to 2020-21 agricultural levy rates. The levy is intended to be tailored to individual products and goods to remove multiple imposition points across a product’s supply chain, subject to further consultation with relevant industries. The policy intent, key policy parameters and contribution to Commonwealth funding remain the same as announced in the Budget package.

The Biosecurity Protection Levy is intended to:

• be payable in relation to agriculture, fisheries and forestry products or goods whether for domestic or overseas markets
• be imposed in the most effective and efficient way for each individual product, taking into account any relevant collection and remittance arrangements under primary industries legislation
• have rates set on the basis of each industry sector’s proportional share of total GVP;
• apply to certain agriculture, fisheries and forestry products and goods, whether or not they are currently levied under the existing agricultural levy system
• be imposed only once for each product across the supply chain, where possible
• be subject to review by the department every three years in relation to rates and a review of the operation of the Bills after three years.

Gross value of production (GVP) data and industry sector contributions

The department has published industry sector GVP proportions and contributions to the Biosecurity Protection Levy. These are available for download from the Gross value of production (GVP) section below. Proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy rates for a number of commodities have also been published below.

Further information

• Sustainable biosecurity funding
• Biosecurity Protection Levy consultation

Fact sheets

Consultation paper

Gross value of production (GVP)

Biosecurity Protection Levy Proposed Rates

Contact us

To find out more about the Biosecurity Protection Levy or Sustainable Biosecurity Funding, email: secretariatbsf@aff.gov.au