biosecurity
Australia has a complex mishmash of biosecurity laws and policies.
The importation of exotic organisms is regulated by the federal government under quarantine and environmental legislation. New federal biosecurity legislation is under development to implement the recommendations of the 2008 Beale review. The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is currently being reviewed by Dr Allan Hawke.
The sale or use of potentially invasive species, once in Australia, is mostly regulated by a variety of inconsistent state and territory laws, if regulated at all.
There are currently few restrictions on the use of most invasive species in Australia, even those recognised as a threat to biodiversity. For example, one study (Coutts-Smith & Downey 2006) found that almost half the weed species threatening biodiversity in NSW were still for sale in Australian nurseries.
One of ISC’s main tasks is to advocate reforms to fill the many gaps of law and policy on invasive species. We advocate a much stronger federal role in regulating use of invasive species likely to have significant impacts on biodiversity. We also advocate that all governments adopt a 'permitted list' approach requiring risk assessment of invasive species prior to introduction to new areas.
Find out more
Review of the EPBC Act - an ISC analysis
2008 Beale review
About Dr Allan Hawke