Work program
Inspector-General of Biosecurity: 2019–20 review plan
Background
The Inspector-General of Biosecurity (Inspector-General) commenced in the role on 25 July 2019 for a three-year term and developed a review program as required under the Biosecurity Act 2015. The Act specifies that the IGB may review the performance of functions, or exercise of powers, by biosecurity officials, including the Director of Biosecurity, who is the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (the department). This review program is over and above the department’s internal audit and performance management programs.
Consultations with the department’s executives and key stakeholder organisations identified key strategic topics for review during the three-year term of the Inspector-General’s appointment. These were selected with the assumption that further topics might be identified; that the topics and scope might be modified as further consultation proceeds; and that further reviews might be required as external needs arise.
An indicative three-year work program—drafted in consultation with the Director of Biosecurity—was presented to the then Minister for Agriculture for her noting in October 2019.
In May 2020, the Inspector-General revised the title and readjusted the scope of one of the reviews listed for completion during 2019–20: A review of level of clarity of operational authority, responsibility and technical expertise on regulatory actions for risk mitigation by regulated entities.
Completed reviews
Review topic | Adequacy of preventative border measures to mitigate the African swine fever risk entering Australia |
Scope | This review considered the department's pre-border and at-border measures to prevent entry of ASF-infected material into Australia (for example, pork and pork products, and fomites) |
Status | A review report was published in March 2020. |
Download
Document | Release date | File size |
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Adequacy of preventative border measures to mitigate the risk of African swine fever | 23 March 2020 | Word [1.04 MB, 75 pages] PDF [1.6 MB, 84 pages] |
Review topic | Biosecurity risk management of international express airfreight pathway for non-commercial consignments |
Scope | This review considered how the department:
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Status | A review report was published in July 2020. |
Download
Document | Release date | File size |
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Biosecurity risk management of international express airfreight pathway for non-commercial consignments | 3 July 2020 | Word [3.2 MB, 84 pages] PDF [1.9 MB, 96 pages] |
Reviews underway (August 2020)
Review topic | Adequacy of the department’s operational model to effectively mitigate biosecurity risks pre-border and at-border in evolving risk and business environments. |
Scope | This review will examine how the department:
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Status | Stakeholder consultation underway. |
Review topic | A review of the department’s recognition of pre-border certification (including the role of overseas competent authorities) as a biosecurity risk mitigation measure. |
Scope | This review will use case studies on high-risk goods (such as bovine genetic material, horticultural produce and seafood) to consider:
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Status | This review was initiated by the former Inspector-General, and will be finalised by December 2020. |