Biosecurity Amendment (Improving Operational Efficiency) Bill 2026

Ms ROBERTS (Pearce) (16:15): The incorporated speech read as follows— I would like to speak to the Biosecurity Amendment (Improving Operational Efficiency) Bill 2026. Australia's biosecurity system is one of the quiet achievers of our national framework—rarely seen, but absolutely essential to the protection of our environment, our agricultural strength, our economy and, ultimately, our way of life.

For communities like those across the electorate of Pearce in Western Australia, biosecurity is not an abstract concept; it is deeply practical. It is about protecting local growers, supporting small and medium agricultural enterprises, and ensuring that the produce cultivated in our regions continues to meet the high standards expected both domestically and internationally.

Australia's favourable pest and disease status is something we should never take for granted. It is the foundation upon which our agricultural productivity is built, and it is a key reason why Australian products are trusted across global markets. That trust translates directly into jobs, into export opportunities, and into regional economic resilience.

But, while our biosecurity system is strong, it is not static. It operates in an environment that is becoming more complex, more dynamic and more challenging with each passing year. We are seeing unprecedented volumes of international travellers and goods moving across our borders.

At the same time, global disease profiles are shifting, climate change is altering the distribution of pests and pathogens and the expectations on our border systems to operate quickly and efficiently are increasing. These pressures are not theoretical; they are very real, and they are growing. In 2025 alone, biosecurity officers inspected more than 280,000 commercial air and sea consignments and intercepted over 359,000 incoming travellers carrying biosecurity risk material.

More recently, in just the month of March this year, over 3,000 mail items and more than 33,000 travellers were intercepted with goods that posed a risk to Australia's biosecurity system. Each one of those interceptions represents a potential threat that was stopped at the border. Each one is a reminder of what is at stake.

For Western Australia in particular, where our geographic isolation has historically been a natural advantage, maintaining strong biosecurity controls is critical. Industries across Pearce—from horticulture to livestock—depend on that protection. A single incursion of a serious pest or disease could have devastating consequences for local producers and for the broader economy.

That is why the Albanese Labor government has taken decisive steps to strengthen Australia's biosecurity system. Since coming to office, we have committed over $2 billion in additional resourcing to ensure that our biosecurity framework remains robust, responsive and fit for purpose. This investment recognises that protecting Australia's borders requires not only skilled personnel but also modern systems, up-to-date legislation and the ability to respond quickly to emerging risks.

However, resourcing alone is not enough. A strong biosecurity system must be supported by legislation that enables efficient operations, supports informed decision-making, and reflects the realities of today's border environment. That is precisely what the Biosecurity Amendment (Improving Operational Efficiency) Bill 2026 seeks to achieve.

This bill is practical, it is targeted and it responds directly to the operational challenges faced at our borders. It focuses on two key areas. The first is modernising the way travellers provide biosecurity information.

For too long, aspects of our biosecurity system have relied on outdated, paper based processes. In a world where millions of travellers move through our borders each year, those processes are no longer sufficient. This bill enables the adoption of new digital methods, including the Australia Travel Declaration, which allows travellers to provide information earlier, more accurately, and in a more accessible format.

This is not simply about convenience; it is about better risk management. When information is provided in advance, biosecurity officers are better equipped to assess risk before a traveller even arrives. That means faster processing for low-risk travellers and more targeted attention on those who present a higher risk.

The Australia Travel Declaration pilot has already demonstrated clear benefits. It has supported smoother passenger flows, reduced congestion at airports and enabled quicker processing times—all without compromising Australia's high biosecurity standards. Importantly, it also allows biosecurity officers to access and analyse information more effectively.

That means less time spent on administrative tasks and more time focused on protecting Australia from genuine threats. For travellers, this means a more streamlined experience at the border. For our biosecurity system, it means greater efficiency and stronger outcomes.

The second key element of this bill is improving transparency and fairness for industry participants. Approved arrangements are an important part of Australia's biosecurity framework, allowing businesses to manage certain biosecurity functions under strict regulatory oversight. However, the current system does not always provide sufficient clarity or opportunity for applicants to respond before decisions are made.

This bill addresses that gap by introducing a clear notice-of-intention process for decisions relating to approved arrangements. This is a straightforward but important reform. It ensures that applicants are informed of proposed decisions and given an opportunity to respond before those decisions are finalised.

It supports a more consistent and transparent regulatory process, and it reinforces procedural fairness. For businesses operating within the biosecurity system—including those in Western Australia who rely on efficient import and export processes—this provides greater certainty and confidence. It also strengthens the integrity of the system as a whole.

In addition to these substantive changes, the bill also makes a minor technical amendment to the Biosecurity Act to remove the use of a defined term that has created ambiguity. While technical in nature, this change is important. Clear and precise legislation is essential for effective implementation, and even small ambiguities can create challenges in practice.

Taken together, these amendments represent a meaningful step forward. They strengthen operational effectiveness at the border, improve the quality and transparency of regulatory decision-making and support better engagement with industry. But perhaps most importantly, they do all of this while maintaining Australia's uncompromising biosecurity standards.

Let us be clear: efficiency must never come at the expense of protection. Australia's biosecurity system is rightly regarded as one of the strongest in the world. It is a system built on vigilance, expertise and a commitment to continuous improvement.

However, past performance is not a guarantee of future success. If anything, the evolving nature of biosecurity risks means that we must work even harder to stay ahead. Maintaining the trust of our farmers, our communities and our international trading partners requires us to constantly adapt—to embrace new technologies, to refine our processes, and to ensure that our legislative framework remains contemporary and fit for purpose.

This bill reflects that mindset. It facilitates the long overdue transition from paper based systems to modern digital solutions. It enhances procedural fairness and transparency.

And it ensures that our biosecurity laws continue to support effective, real-world outcomes. For electorates such as Pearce, where local industries depend on strong biosecurity protections, these reforms matter. They matter for growers who rely on pest-free conditions to maintain productivity, they matter for exporters who depend on Australia's reputation for clean, safe produce and they matter for communities who understand that a strong biosecurity system underpins economic stability and environmental protection.

More broadly, they matter for Australia's place in the global economy. Our ability to compete on the world stage is closely tied to the strength of our biosecurity system. Trading partners need to have confidence in our standards, and that confidence is built on a system that is not only strong but also modern, efficient and transparent.

By strengthening the links between innovation, operational delivery and legislative clarity, this bill helps ensure that Australia remains resilient, adaptive and trusted. It is a forward-looking reform that recognises the realities of today while preparing us for the challenges of tomorrow. In closing, this bill is not about sweeping changes or unnecessary complexity.

It is about practical improvements that make a real difference. It is about ensuring that our biosecurity system continues to evolve in step with the world around us. And it is about protecting what matters most: our environment, our industries, our communities and our way of life.

I commend the bill to the House. Question agreed to. Bill read a second time.

Ordered that this bill be reported to the House without amendment.