Biosecurity overhaul: Farmers urged to provide feedback on proposed law reforms

Farmers are being urged to have their final say on a slew of proposed reforms to WA’s biosecurity laws, ranging from tougher penalties for non-compliance to the establishment of a new advisory body. It comes as an independent review of the Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act 2007, commissioned by the State Government mid-last year, nears completion. The six-member panel carrying out the review will hand down its final report and recommendations to the government after a third and final comment period, which began last week and runs until June 30. “The stage three public comment period will be the last opportunity to provide input into this once-in-a-decade review,” panel chair Kaylene Gulich said. “The review panel has already consulted widely with people, industry and communities around the State, from the Kimberley in the north, down to Esperance on the south coast, as well as Perth, Albany and Carnarvon, to identify the challenges and opportunities represented by the Act.” The BAM Act sets the framework for WA’s biosecurity systems, the use of agricultural and veterinary chemicals, and ensuring safe and quality agricultural products. The review aims to ensure the Act provides an “up-to-date and fit-for-purpose legal framework ... to underpin a world-class biosecurity system”, according to the WA Government. It covers nine reform areas including clarifying the role of the Act, planning and reporting, emergency powers, compensation for individuals and businesses, compliance, community-led pest management, and prioritising pests, weeds and diseases. Respondents are asked to read the stage three discussion paper — which details 21 opportunities for reform across the nine areas — before submitting feedback via an online survey. One opportunity identified in the paper was the establishment of a new formal body to provide strategic advice and leadership to support WA’s biosecurity system. “The body would operate with the support of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development,” the discussion paper states. “It would be tasked wit h... providing strategic co-ordination for community, industry, local governments and State Government agencies to work together to manage biosecurity risks and impacts.” The paper also flags the opportunity of incorporating “aggravated” offence considerations in the BAM Act “to help ensure that the penalty is proportional to the harm caused”, as well as increasing the monetary value of penalties. “Work will need to be undertaken to identify the circumstances that would make the offending more serious and, therefore, warrant it being an ‘aggravated offence’, for example, if the offence were committed intentionally or recklessly,” the paper states. Ms Gulich said it was important as many people as possible provided input into the review. “(This will) ensure WA has the best possible biosecurity legislation to safeguard our industries, environment and lifestyle,” she said. “This is our opportunity to make sure WA is positioned to respond to whatever pest or disease challenges we might face in a world of increasing biosecurity risks.” Visit yoursay.dpird.wa.gov.au/bam-act-review-2022.