Inspector-General of Biosecurity

Role and responsibilities

The Inspector-General of Biosecurity (Inspector-General) is an independent, statutory officer appointed, under Section 566A of the Commonwealth Biosecurity Act 2015, by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Inspector-General is responsible for reviewing the performance of functions, or exercise of powers, by biosecurity officials in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (the department).

The Biosecurity Act 2015 creates the Inspector-General’s mandate, sets out the relationship with the Director of Biosecurity (the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) and the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. The Biosecurity Regulation 2016 further prescribes the provisions and processes of conducting reviews, information gathering and publishing review reports on Inspector-General website.

Inspector-General undertakes systems’ reviews rather than assessments of only a single function or biosecurity official. Inspector-General reviews provide assurance over Australia’s preventative biosecurity risk management systems. In any review, the Inspector-General may choose to explore topics such as: governance, regulation, policymaking, strategy and innovation, assurance and verification, people capacity and capability, technology, infrastructure and operational capability, data management, funding and investment, stakeholder engagement, and the implementation of plans and recommendations.

The Inspector-General prepares review reports and shares with the Director of Biosecurity and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Review reports are published on the Inspector-General’s website, except for information that would be prejudicial to the public interest.

The recommendations in the Inspector-General review reports support reforms in the way the department manages biosecurity, enabling it to develop the capabilities Australia needs as well as strengthen preventative biosecurity controls in meeting the challenges posed by increasing growth in global trade and passenger movements.

Scope

The Inspector-General’s scope includes all biosecurity arrangements and actions within the remit of the Federal Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry:

  • Pre-border arrangements and actions. For example, the department’s work with foreign government agencies to manage biosecurity risks, international standard-setting bodies, importers, offshore risk assessments and intelligence gathering, and capacity building to mitigate biosecurity threats to Australia.
  • At the border arrangements and actions. For example, screening and inspections, enforcement, quarantine, and engagement with regulated entities.
  • Immediate post-border arrangements and actions. For example, surveillance and emergency response planning and execution.

The Inspector-General’s scope does not extend to:

  • biosecurity (and other) regulatory systems of other Commonwealth and state/territory agencies
  • international trade issues and market access opportunities
  • management of human health biosecurity risks by the Department of Health and Aged Care
  • regulatory systems of the department that are outside the remit of the Biosecurity Act 2015, including the following:
    • imported food,
    • importation of illegally logged timber,
    • administration of primary industry levy and charge collection,
    • goods exported out of Australia.

Independence

The Inspector-General of Biosecurity is independent of the Minister for Agriculture, the Director of Biosecurity (the Secretary of the department) and any other biosecurity officials in the department. However, the Inspector-General may:

  • consider the Minister’s request for a review
  • seek immediate action from the Director of Biosecurity (or senior departmental executives) and the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to protect or enhance the integrity of Australia’s biosecurity systems.

Information gathering power

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, the Inspector-General can request information or documents, or answers to questions relevant for a review from biosecurity officials in the department.

Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (BIRA)

The Inspector-General may also review formal Biosecurity Import Risk Analyses (BIRA) as regulated under the Biosecurity Act 2015.