Biosecurity Tasmania is the lead agency to respond promptly to biosecurity emergencies in order to maintain market access and productivity of Tasmania’s primary industries, as well as mitigate risks to the community and the environment.
Under Tasmania’s emergency management arrangements, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania (NRE Tas) is the Management Authority (lead-agency) for prevention, preparedness and response in relation to biosecurity emergencies. The State Special Emergency Management Plan – Biosecurity Emergencies further describes the role of NRE Tas and its relationships with other Tasmanian Government agencies and provides an overview of processes and arrangements for the management of biosecurity emergencies in the State.
Biosecurity emergencies are managed within a complex set of arrangements that involve both state and national governments, industry and other stakeholders. In particular, the
Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity (IGAB) is an agreement between the Commonwealth of Australia and state and territory governments with the aim to support, strengthen and enhance the national biosecurity system.
Prevention
Effective biosecurity systems begin with a clear understanding of potential threats and pathways of introduction.
Landholders, industry and the community play a vital role in the prevention of biosecurity emergencies in Tasmania by following good farm biosecurity practices, import requirements and reporting any suspicious pests or diseases.
Response
Biosecurity Tasmania works with industry, government agencies and the community to respond to biosecurity outbreaks.
Biosecurity emergency response aim to:
Prevent the spread of the pest or disease into and/or within Tasmania
Identify areas of infection and eradicate the pest or disease
Control, eradicate and/or prove freedom from the pest or disease
Provide advice and information to communities and industries
Support recovery from pest or disease incursions
Recovery
Recovery measures are dependent on the type and scale of a biosecurity emergency.
More information regarding recovery for specific responses will be provided during and after a biosecurity response, which will ensure that the information provided is specific to the needs of the recovery effort.