Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Biosecurity's recognises that biosecurity is a shared responsibility and sets out the principles that will underpin the operation of a national biosecurity system; describes the key components of the national biosecurity system, primarily for animal, plant and environmental pests and diseases in both aquatic and terrestrial environments—including zoonotic diseases. Human biosecurity arrangements not covered under this Agreement are covered by existing arrangements between governments; clarifies the respective roles and responsibilities of the Parties in the national biosecurity system; describes steps to strengthen the working partnership between the Parties and to enable biosecurity measures to be implemented consistently and efficiently across the biosecurity continuum; establishes nationally agreed approaches for the Parties to work together to prevent, prepare for, detect and mitigate biosecurity risks, and respond to, manage and recover from biosecurity incidents should they occur. f. identifies national priorities that the Parties will work on collaboratively to strengthen the national biosecurity system.
The goal of the national biosecurity system is to minimise adverse impacts of pests and diseases on Australia’s economy, environment and the community while facilitating trade and the movement of plants, animals, people and products. The objectives of the national biosecurity system are to provide arrangements, structures and frameworks involving governments, industry and community that: reduce the likelihood of exotic pests and diseases which have the potential to cause significant harm to the economy, the environment, and the community (people, animals and plants) from entering, becoming established or spreading in Australia; prepare and allow for effective responses to, and management of, exotic and emerging pests and diseases that enter, establish or spread in Australia; ensure that, where appropriate, nationally significant pests and diseases already in Australia are contained, suppressed or managed by relevant stakeholders; enable international and domestic market access and tourism.