On guard for environmental biosecurity threats

The Hon David Littleproud MP
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia
  • The National Environment Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) 2.0 is now live
  • NEBRA sets out national arrangements and cost sharing for response to significant environmental pest and disease incursions impacting our environment
  • Provisions allow non-government entities to have a say on environmental responses, while improving consistency with other emergency response deeds, transparency and useability.
  • The National Environment Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) 2.0 is now in place with all jurisdictions signing up to the revised agreement.

    Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia David Littleproud said the agreement was a key part of the Australian Government’s efforts to protect Australia’s sensitive and diverse environment.

    “NEBRA is an agreement between the Australian, state and territory governments to respond to nationally significant biosecurity incidents primarily affecting the environment,” Minister Littleproud said.

    “Its main focus is those exotic pests and diseases which could have a detrimental effect on native species, ecosystems and environment, as well as impacts on social amenity and infrastructure.

    “The new NEBRA provides for a more robust, transparent and shared consideration of such threats, recognising the importance of our environment to our way of life and livelihoods.

    “NEBRA 2.0 will enable greater involvement of environmental stakeholders in decision making.

    “It is an important complement to the emergency response deeds in place for incursions impacting our plant and animal industries.

    “This is another great example of how we work together to protect our biosecurity status – while we don’t want to have use our national response arrangements, it is good to know that we have prepared and agreed them in advance.

    “I acknowledge and thank my state colleagues for their support and contribution.

    “Governments remain committed to eradication of significant biosecurity threats where it is technically feasible and cost beneficial to do so.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.