Engagement on issues related to biosecurity is a high priority for GrainGrowers. This reflects the priority placed on biosecurity by our members, along with a recognition of the cost of managing both established and new pests and diseases in farming systems. The grains industry, through the joint work of Plant Health Australia, the Grains Research and Development Corporation, Grain Producers Australia and GrainGrowers, has recently launched the Grains Biosecurity Plan1. This outlines specific actions the grains industry will take to address biosecurity challenges, and is aligned with the National Biosecurity Strategy.
The Grains Biosecurity Plan includes an implementation plan identifying gaps and prioritises specific actions to improve our industry’s biosecurity preparedness and response. There is an opportunity to learn from this collaborative approach in developing the National Biosecurity Strategy Action Plan and developing a shared understanding of priorities and actions.
It is important that there is transparency and accountability on progress in the Priority Areas under the National Biosecurity Strategy. Clear outcomes and performance indicators need to be developed to ensure there is a shared understanding of achievement under the National Biosecurity Strategy amongst the broader community, including the agricultural industries.
This should be supported through regular reporting on actions and performance, for example on a quarterly basis. Biosecurity is a shared responsibility, and a common understanding of the outcomes sought under the National Biosecurity Strategy and progress towards achieving them is a useful mechanism for building awareness and highlighting the value of coordination and partnerships delivered through the biosecurity system.
GrainGrowers notes that the action plan activities developed under the initial actions and priority areas are intended to be a starting point, to be built upon in future action plans.
However, many of the action plan activities are poorly defined and it will be difficult to determine if they have been achieved to a satisfactory level. Actions should be specific, time-bound and linked to next steps.
Rather than provide detailed comments on each of the activities under the priority areas this submission has focussed on outcomes and issues that should be considered and incorporated into the activities. Broad comments on each of the National Biosecurity Strategy (NBS) priority areas include:
- Stakeholder engagement in design and delivery of activities to support a shared biosecurity culture (NBS Priority Area 1) should be strengthened and broadened.
- Industry, local and regional stakeholders must be a focus for activities to build of stronger partnerships (NBS Priority Area 2), and the role of Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia in brokering industry partnerships need to be recognised in the activities.
- The development of activities to support and maintain a highly skilled workforce (NBS Priority Area 3) should be underpinned by a shared understanding of workforce capability and capacity which considers both current and future workforce needs, as well as work to ensure the employment environment supports the retention of skilled staff.
- A focus on activities to promote a culture of shared learning across agencies and continuous improvement within the biosecurity system to improve coordinated preparedness and response (NBS Priority Area 4) must be a priority.
- GrainGrowers continues to call for improved mechanisms for agricultural industry engagement around priority setting and reporting on performance to underpin sustainable investment (NBS Priority Area 5) in biosecurity.
- Integration of the biosecurity system supported by technology, research and data (NBS Priority Area 6) should be underpinned by a technology roadmap that can promote a shared understanding of the context, priorities and value derived from investment in this area.
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