Public consultation on the 2024 review of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) closed on Thursday 19 September 2024.

The IGAB is an agreement between all Australian governments. It sets out the framework that underpins Australia’s biosecurity system, outlining the agreed national goals and objectives, clarifying roles, responsibilities and governance arrangements.

The independent review of the Agreement had to be undertaken within five years of its commencement in January 2019. Dr Michele Allan AO was appointed in May 2024 as the independent reviewer for the 2024 review of the IGAB.

The review’s scope included:

• the implementation and effectiveness of the current Agreement and whether any additional elements are required to prevent, prepare for, detect and mitigate biosecurity risks, and respond to, manage and recover from biosecurity incidents should they occur
• existing cost-sharing arrangements and the potential for implementation of new funding arrangements for cross-jurisdictional biosecurity activities
• the impacts of COVID-19 on the functioning of the IGAB and if any consequential amendments may be required.

Plant Health Australia’s submission was one of 26 submissions to the discussion paper received by Dr Allan. Submissions, where permission to publish was provided, will be made available on the ‘Have Your Say’ site.

Dr Allan’s final report and a set of recommendations will be released to agriculture ministers for their consideration by late January 2025.