Biosecurity Act 2015

The Biosecurity Act 2015 is an Act of the Parliament of Australia which manages biosecurity risks in Australia. It was enacted on 16 June 2015, after the Bill was passed with bipartisan support on 14 May 2015. It covers both agricultural and human medical biosecurity risks, including epidemics and pandemics, and is designed to contain and/or deal with any "diseases and pests that may cause harm to human, animal or plant health or the environment" in Australia.

Biosecurity Act 2015

15 May 2015

16 June 2015

2014^[1]

The application of the Act was particularly tested during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

Risks to human health. Human diseases listed in a legislative instrument are the main focus, but there are also requirements relating to people entering or leaving Australian territory as well as rules relating to managing deceased people.

Goods that are brought into Australian territory from outside Australian territory, by air or by sea. It also provides for prohibition of or conditions relating to certain goods from being brought or imported into Australian territory.

Aircraft and vessels entering Australian territory from outside Australian territory, including controlling landing or mooring places and their movement while they are in Australian territory.

Implementation of the Ballast Water Convention, which regulates the and sediment of certain vessels, in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

ballast water

Other biosecurity risks which may be posed by diseases or pests in or on goods or premises in Australian territory.

Arrangements to enable biosecurity officials to carry out biosecurity activities to manage biosecurity risks associated with goods, premises or other things.

Provision for the to declare biosecurity emergencies and human biosecurity emergencies; provision for special powers for the Agriculture Minister to deal with biosecurity emergencies (including the delegation of certain powers to national response agencies; and provision for special powers to be given to the Health Minister to deal with human biosecurity emergencies, including by effecting the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO).

Governor-General of Australia

Provision for powers for biosecurity officers powers to ensure people are complying with this Act, to investigate non‑compliance and to enforce this Act by means such as civil penalties, infringement notices, enforceable undertakings and injunctions and other means.

Governance is described, including the functions and powers of the Director of Biosecurity, Director of Human Biosecurity, and various types of biosecurity officers.

The Act is about "managing diseases and pests that may cause harm to human, animal or plant health or the environment" in Australia. There are chapters which cover management of risks in several areas, including:^[5]

Part 3 (Section 344) states that the Director of Human Biosecurity is the person acting in the capacity of Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer (CMO), and this person has certain powers conferred upon them by this Act. Part 4 deals with human biosecurity officers. The CMO may, under Section 563 of the Act, make members of the Australian Defence Force, as well as officers and employees of the federal and state departments of health, human biosecurity officers, if satisfied that they have appropriate clinical expertise.^[5]^[13]

Biosecurity in Australia

. Federal Register of Legislation. Australian Government.

Biosecurity Act 2015