Last week the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) announced that the Australian Government has made the decision to not proceed with the proposed Biosecurity Imports Levy.

The levy was to apply to all containerised (including empty containers) and non-containerised cargo imported into Australia by sea to support a smarter and more efficient biosecurity system to protect Australia’s agricultural production and trade. It was due to raise more than $100 million per year to protect Australia’s borders from pests and disease.

AUSVEG had advocated for the implementation of this levy, saying that biosecurity is a shared responsibility between the federal government, state governments, growers and citizens at large, and that growers already shoulder a significant burden for maintaining our biosecurity system.

AUSVEG is disappointed with this decision, but will be working with government and the broader industry to find a more equitable solution so that all sectors in the supply chain take a bigger role in funding our biosecurity systems, given they are a significant pathway for pest and disease incursions.

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