To uphold Australia’s high biosecurity standards, the government has ramped up its enforcement response to non-compliance over the past year.
Recent updates to the Biosecurity Act include additional measures to address non-compliance more effectively, including civil sanctions, infringement notices, and a single provision for suspending or permanently revoking approved arrangements.
In collaboration with the border agency partners, they have supported joint actions such as licence cancellations.
Additionally, they have introduced enforceable undertakings to the suite of proportionate responses to non-compliance.
Enforceable undertakings are voluntary, legally binding agreements to address non-compliant behaviour established after negotiation with the involved parties. If breached, enforceable undertakings can be enforced by the Federal Court.
These new enforcement actions involve investigators, auditors, biosecurity officers and responsible entities. Since January 2023, 13 enforceable undertakings have been issued, and AUD 150,240 in infringements have been issued to holders of approved arrangements.
The government will continue working with stakeholders to detect non-compliance and respond effectively and proportionately to help prevent further breaches of the department's legislation.
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