February 27th, 2024New laws strengthen biosecurity safeguards
The Victorian government has strengthened enforcement power and increased penalties to better manage biosecurity incidents and protect Victoria’s valuable agriculture sector for the future.
The Biosecurity Legislation Amendment (Incident Response) Bill 2024, passed in Parliament this month aims to strengthen Victoria’s biosecurity response system to ensure it can effectively respond to all threats from diseases, pests and weeds.
The legislation has set increased penalties for trespassing on agricultural premises, doubling them to up to $23,077 for an individual and $115,386 for an organisation.
Fines will also increase for not following biosecurity and traceability requirements during an emergency response, including for breaching movement restrictions under a Control Order, and for deliberately spreading an exotic disease.
Victoria Police will also be recognised as livestock inspectors to enhance their ability to effectively investigate farm crimes involving livestock theft.
Inspectors will receive additional powers, including allowing them to direct vehicles in emergency animal disease outbreaks.
The legislation has also made it an offence to possess livestock whose identification tags have been illegally removed or replaced – preventing fraudulent practices that undermine Victoria’s livestock traceability and access to export markets.
The administration of compensation for livestock owners and businesses impacted by emergency animal diseases has also been strengthened, ensuring fair payments tied to market value and more streamlined processes for replacement livestock.
Victoria’s agriculture sector is already underpinned by strong biosecurity, but with ongoing and changing threats from diseases, pests and weeds, it’s important the legislative system that protects our farms, animals, crops and plants continues to improve.
Safeguarding Victoria’s agriculture sector from biosecurity threats is critical to its future – that’s why the government has invested $112.7 million in emergency animal disease preparedness this term.
