THE Western Australian government has welcomed the release of the National Biosecurity Strategy.
State agriculture and food minister Alannah MacTiernan said the strategy aims to build a stronger, more connected approach to national biosecurity.
The strategy was developed in consultation with all states and major territories. The National Biosecurity Committee oversaw the strategy’s development.
The strategy builds on plans, as well as work already being done across Australia by government, industry and the community.
The WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development led the state’s input into the development of the strategy.
The strategy focuses on six priority areas: understanding everyone’s role in biosecurity, strengthening partnerships and networks, building workforce capability and capacity to respond, a co-ordinated approach to preparedness and response, future investment in biosecurity priorities, and creating a science-based system to support research and decision making.
Next steps will include development of a national implementation plan to identify initial actions and guide future planning. This will also inform and assist WA in its own planning and biosecurity strategies.
WA agriculture and food minister Alannah MacTiernan said the release of the National Biosecurity Strategy is timely, with the focus on the emerging threats of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease to Australia.
“It provides us with a great opportunity to build on the solid foundations we have in Western Australia and drive a collaborative approach to biosecurity at local, regional, national and international levels,” she said.
“The McGowan Government invest considerably into the State’s biosecurity system, with an additional boost of $15 million in 2021-22 to support emergency preparedness, enhance early warning and detection systems, and ensure we have the capacity to respond.”
