Review of Australia's Quarantine and Biosecurity Arrangements - Report and Australian Government Preliminary Response
On 19 February 2008, the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon. Tony Burke MP announced a comprehensive, independent review of Australia’s quarantine and biosecurity arrangements.
This review included, but was not limited to, a wide-ranging assessment of the functions of the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and Biosecurity Australia. The review was undertaken by an independent panel of experts chaired by Mr Roger Beale AO, a Senior Associate with the Allen Consulting Group. Mr Beale was joined on the panel by Dr Jeff Fairbrother AM, Mr Andrew Inglis AM and Mr David Trebeck.
On 30 September 2008, Mr Beale provided the panel’s report - One Biosecurity: a working partnership, to the minister.
On 18 December 2008, Minister Burke released the report, along with the Australian Government’s preliminary response.
The Australian Government is committed to reforms to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system as outlined in the preliminary response released in December 2008. The Australian Government’s response to these reforms is underway, however further changes will be subject to whole-of-government budget processes.
Media release
- Government releases Quarantine and Biosecurity Review report - 18 December 2008
Frequently asked questions
Read the statement by the panel of inquiry into biosecurity and quarantine - 26 February 2009 
PDF [15.6kb]
For general inquiries regarding the Quarantine and Biosecurity Review report and the government’s preliminary response, please contact the Quarantine and Biosecurity Policy Unit.