FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK (SUPPLEMENTARY POWERS) AMENDMENT (AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES MEASURES NO. 1) REGULATIONS 2018 (F2018L00838) EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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FINANCIAL FRAMEWORK (SUPPLEMENTARY POWERS) AMENDMENT (AGRICULTURE AND WATER RESOURCES MEASURES NO. 1) REGULATIONS 2018 (F2018L00838)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Finance

 

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997

 

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment
(Agriculture and Water Resources Measures No. 1) Regulations 2018

 

The Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (the FF(SP) Act) confers on the Commonwealth, in certain circumstances, powers to make arrangements under which money can be spent; or to make grants of financial assistance; and to form, or otherwise be involved in, companies.  The arrangements, grants, programs and companies (or classes of arrangements or grants in relation to which the powers are conferred) are specified in the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 (the Principal Regulations).  The FF(SP) Act applies to Ministers and the accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities, as defined under section 12 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

 

Section 65 of the FF(SP) Act provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters required or permitted by that Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to that Act.

 

Section 32B of the FF(SP) Act authorises the Commonwealth to make, vary and administer arrangements and grants specified in the Principal Regulations.  Section 32B also authorises the Commonwealth to make, vary and administer arrangements for the purposes of programs specified in the Principal Regulations.  Schedule 1AA and Schedule 1AB to the Principal Regulations specify the arrangements, grants and programs. 

 

The purpose of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Agriculture and Water Resources Measures No. 1) Regulations 2018 (the Regulations) is to amend
Schedule 1AB to the Principal Regulations to establish legislative authority for government spending on two initiatives administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

 

Funding will be provided for:

*         payment of training and travel related expenses of personnel from Australia's trading partners and neighbouring countries to undertake biosecurity capacity building and training in Australia or other countries; and

*         the Priority Pest and Disease Planning, Surveillance and Response Program to strengthen Australia's ability to prepare for exotic and emerging priority pest and disease incursions by reducing the likelihood of a pest or disease entering, establishing or spreading in Australia, and by mitigating the impacts of those pests and diseases in Australia.

 

Funding for the Priority Pest and Disease Planning, Surveillance and Response Program was included in the 2018-19 Budget.

 

Details of the Regulations are set out at Attachment A.  A Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights is at Attachment B.

 

The Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.  The Regulations commence on the day after the instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. 

 

Consultation

 

In accordance with section 17 of the Legislation Act 2003, consultation has taken place with the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

 

A regulation impact statement is not required as the Regulations only apply to non-corporate Commonwealth entities and do not adversely affect the private sector.

 


Details of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Agriculture and Water Resources Measures No. 1) Regulations 2018

 

Section 1 - Name

 

This section provides that the title of the Regulations is the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Agriculture and Water Resources Measures No. 1) Regulations 2018.

 

Section 2 - Commencement

 

This section provides that the Regulations commence on the day after the instrument is registered on the Federal Register of Legislation. 

 

Section 3 - Authority

 

This section provides that the Regulations are made under the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997.

 

Section 4 - Schedules

 

This section provides that the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 are amended as set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.

 

Schedule 1 - Amendments

 

Item 1 - In the appropriate position in Part 4 of Schedule 1AB (table)

 

This item adds two new table items to Part 4 of Schedule 1AB to establish legislative authority for government spending on activities administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (the department).

 

New table item 284 establishes legislative authority for the Government to provide funding for the payment of the expenses of counterpart country biosecurity agency personnel to undertake biosecurity capacity building and training, either in Australia or in other countries.  This will include the payment of expenses associated with undertaking the biosecurity capacity building and training (such as training or course fees) and the related travel expenses to attend the training (flights, accommodation, meals, travel related expenses before, during and after the training, such as taxis).

 

The department is responsible for safeguarding Australia's plant and animal health status. 
To ensure Australia's high standards of plant and animal health are maintained, the department undertakes a number of activities to manage biosecurity risks.  These activities occur offshore, at the border and onshore.  As part of the 2015 Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, it was recognised that further investment in offshore related activities would improve Australia's ability to detect and manage biosecurity risks early and prevent damage to farms, the environment and the economy in the long run. 

 

As part of these offshore activities, the department undertakes biosecurity capacity building of counterpart agencies in Australia's trading partners and neighbouring countries to manage biosecurity risks and to improve and maintain international market access opportunities.  To help achieve this objective, the department pays for the biosecurity capacity building training and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel to undertake relevant training in Australia or other countries.  The training may be delivered by the department, international organisations, or as part of relevant national and international biosecurity conferences and events. 

 

Funding for training and travel related expenses comes from a number of programs due to the geographic dispersion of the counterpart country agency personnel and the need for some programs to address specific plant or animal health objectives.  These programs include:

*         the Offshore Animal and Plant Health Surveillance program;

*         the Australia Indonesia Partnership for Emerging Infectious Disease;

*         the Solomon Islands Biosecurity Development Program (Phase 2);

*         the Harmonising Biosecurity Regulatory Approaches in a Multilateral Context program; and

*         the Build the Capacity of Overseas Biosecurity Agencies to Implement and Manage Biosecurity Systems program.

 

Offshore Animal and Plant Health Surveillance program

 

The Agricultural Competitiveness White Paper, released in July 2015, included a
$200 million package of measures to improve biosecurity surveillance and analysis to better target critical biosecurity risks.  The program was included in the 2015-16 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook as part of the measure 'Stronger Farmers, Stronger Economy - improvements to access premium markets'.  Details are set out in the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook 2015-16, Appendix A:
Policy decisions taken since the 2015-16 Budget at page 143.

 

Funding for this program comes from Program 2.2: Plant and Animal Health, which is part of Outcome 2.  Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19, Budget Related Paper No. 1.1, Agriculture and Water Resources Portfolio at pages 52 to 53.

 

In 2016-17, approximately $65,000 was spent on training, travel and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel under the offshore plant health surveillance program component.

 

In 2016-17, approximately $130,000 was spent on training, travel and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel under the offshore animal health surveillance program component.

 

The department also receives funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) to undertake biosecurity capacity building activities with counterpart country agencies.  The funding is received as grants under relevant agreements between DFAT and the department.  Part of the funding is used for travel and travel related expenses associated with the biosecurity capacity training activities.  These activities are delivered by the department under the following programs:


 

Australia Indonesia Partnership for Emerging Infectious Disease

 

The program has DFAT Official Development Assistance funding of $6.9 million over three years commencing in July 2015.  Funding for this program comes from Program 1.2: Official Development Assistance, which is part of Outcome 1.  Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19, Budget Related Paper No. 1.8, Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio at pages 23 and 26.

 

In 2016-17, approximately $360,000 was spent on travel and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel under the program.

 

Solomon Islands Biosecurity Development Program (Phase 2)

 

The program has DFAT Official Development Assistance funding of $750,000 over two years commencing in May 2017.  Funding for this program comes from Program 1.2: Official Development Assistance, which is part of Outcome 1.  Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19, Budget Related Paper No. 1.8, Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio at pages 23 and 26.

 

In 2016-17, approximately $18,000 was spent on training, travel and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel under the program.

 

Harmonising Biosecurity Regulatory Approaches in a Multilateral Context program

 

The program has DFAT Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Diplomacy Fund funding of $199,000 from 1 December 2016 until 30 June 2019.

 

Funding for this program comes from Program 1.2: Official Development Assistance, which is part of Outcome 1.  Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19, Budget Related Paper No. 1.8, Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio at pages 23 and 26.

 

In 2016-17, approximately $43,000 was spent on travel and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel under the program.

 

Build the Capacity of Overseas Biosecurity Agencies to Implement and Manage Biosecurity Systems program

 

The program has DFAT Government Partnerships for Development project funding of
$1.2 million from 2015-16 to 2017-18.  Funding for this program comes from Program 1.2: Official Development Assistance, which is part of Outcome 1.  Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19, Budget Related Paper No. 1.8, Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio at pages 23 and 26.

 

In 2016-17, approximately $75,000 was spent on travel and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel under the program.

 

It is not possible to specify the exact amount of funding that will be spent on training and travel related activities under each of the different programs for the forward financial years as each program is subject to a number of factors and parameters that could affect the final funding amount, including:

*         the timing of training opportunities and availability of personnel in the counterpart agencies to attend;

*         the appointment of new personnel in the counterpart agencies who then require appropriate training to be conducted in-country at short notice or without prior planning;

*         where the timing of training to be held in Australia may not suit all counterpart agencies;

*         the negotiation and agreement of the final contribution to be provided by the Government to counterpart country agency personnel; and

*         the calculation of final costs of the training and travel which are dependent on fluctuations in exchange rates and flight prices.

 

The department will be responsible for identifying and nominating relevant biosecurity agencies to attend the biosecurity capacity building training through a closed, targeted,
non-competitive process.  The selection of the appropriate counterpart country biosecurity agencies will be based on a number of relevant factors, including:

*         self-identified or recognised need;

*         concurrent or regional programs being conducted by Australian government agencies;

*         volume of trade between countries; and

*         emerging pests and diseases risks.

 

The selection of the appropriate counterpart country agencies is made by the relevant
SES officer as a delegate of the Secretary of the department.

 

Each selected counterpart country agency will nominate the specific personnel to attend the biosecurity capacity building training.

 

The approval and payment of training and travel related expenses of counterpart country agency personnel will be determined by the responsible departmental official as a delegate of the Secretary of the department.  These decisions will be made in accordance with applicable requirements, including those under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 to ensure that funding is only used for costs that are appropriate and applicable.

 

The mechanism for paying the training attendance and travel related expenses will vary depending on a number of factors, including:

 

The method of payment may include:

*         reimbursement of the costs paid by the counterpart agencies, their representative, or individual officers attending the training;

*         payment of a per diem allowance to each participant;

*         direct payment by the department to an agreed, selected service provider (such as hotels or airlines for flights); or

*         the department making the travel and accommodation arrangements and providing per diem allowances to individual officers.


 

Funding decisions made under the programs will not be suitable for independent merits review.  There is a finite resource available for training and travel related expenses which will only be paid to a number of counterpart country agencies for a specific purpose. 
The selection of the counterpart country agencies will be targeted, and funding will be provided on a
one-off, non-competitive and time-limited basis.  In addition, the process for making payments for the training and travel related expenses will be subject to the requirements of the Commonwealth's resource management framework including the
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

 

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the following powers of the Constitution:

*         the trade and commerce power (section 51(i));

*         the quarantine power (section 51(ix));

*         the aliens power (section 51(xix));

*         the external affairs power (section 51(xxix)); and

*         the Pacific islands relations power (section 51(xxx)).

 

Trade and commerce power

 

Section 51(i) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to 'trade and commerce with other countries, and among the states'.  

 

This program will facilitate agricultural trade between Australia and other countries by enabling activities for the purposes of harmonising biosecurity requirements, and promoting trade facilitation, systems improvement and biosecurity capacity building.

 

Quarantine power

 

Section 51(ix) of the Constitution empowers the Commonwealth to make laws with respect to 'quarantine'.  

 

This program will enable the Commonwealth to facilitate the attendance of foreign officials at capacity building and training events relating to measures to prevent the introduction or spread of diseases and pests that are quarantine risks in Australia and overseas, thereby reducing biosecurity risks for Australia that may arise from trade in agricultural goods.

 

Aliens power

 

Section 51(xix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to 'aliens'.  

 

The program will enable the Commonwealth to facilitate the travel of foreign officials to relevant biosecurity events.

 

External affairs power

 

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to 'external affairs'.

 

This program will enable the Commonwealth to facilitate the attendance of officials from Australia's trading partners and neighbouring countries at capacity building and training activities delivered by the Commonwealth, and at relevant international biosecurity conferences and events.  


Such training and capacity building activities will take place at locations that are geographically external to Australia, and will be related to Australia's relations with foreign countries.

 

Pacific islands relations power

 

Section 51(xxx) enables the Commonwealth to make laws with respect to 'the relations of the Commonwealth with the islands of the Pacific'.

 

This program will enable the Commonwealth to facilitate the attendance of officials from the Pacific islands at capacity building and training activities and other biosecurity conferences and events, including activities and events delivered by the Commonwealth. 

 

New table item 285 establishes legislative authority for government spending on the Priority Pest and Disease Planning, Surveillance and Response Program (the Program). 

 

The Program aims to strengthen Australia's ability to prepare for exotic and emerging priority pest and disease incursions by reducing the likelihood of a pest or disease entering, establishing or spreading in Australia, and by mitigating the impacts of those pests and diseases in Australia.  Exotic and emerging pest and disease incursions have the potential to significantly impact Australia's agricultural production, export market access, the environment and public health.

Funding under the Program will be provided for the following measures:

 

National action plans for Australia's priority pests and diseases

 

This measure includes developing and implementing national action plans to address the risks posed by priority pests and diseases to Australia's agricultural productivity, export market access, the environment and public health, as well as developing innovative surveillance and diagnostic tools and approaches to improve surveillance activities and collection of pest and disease information. 

 

The national plans will cover prevention, preparedness, detection and response planning, including surveillance and diagnostic requirements.

 

Offshore intelligence gathering, surveillance and capacity building

 

This measure includes maintaining and building on the Government's recent investment in offshore intelligence gathering, surveillance and capacity building in neighbouring countries.

 

Examples of activities under this measure include:

*         training and support for animal (including aquatic) and plant biosecurity;

*         improving collection and analysis of data on pest and disease status in other countries, and biosecurity risk management and emergency pest and disease prevention, preparedness and response in neighbouring countries;

*         sharing of plant and animal disease information between and within countries, supporting early warning systems in neighbouring countries; and

*         improving the quality of overseas laboratory procedures and infrastructure.

 

Australia's diagnostic capacity for emerging and emergency pests and diseases

 

This measure includes maintaining and improving Australia's diagnostic capacity for emerging and emergency pests and diseases, which involves detecting and identifying potential exotic and emerging pests and diseases, researching pest and disease detection and diagnostic methods, and enhancing pest and disease detection and diagnostic capability.  
Funding will also be provided to support the operational costs of the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, which provides a vital surveillance and diagnostic capacity for emerging and emergency animal diseases.  Recent examples of the Australian Animal Health Laboratory's activities include confirmation of exotic diseases in Australia such as white spot disease in prawns and highly pathogenic avian influenza in poultry.  


This measure also includes early career support and ongoing professional development for plant health diagnosticians, and enhancing national reference and confirmatory diagnostics laboratories for priority exotic plant pests.

 

Australian foot and mouth disease vaccine bank

 

This measure includes funding the Australian Government's contribution to renew the Australian foot and mouth disease vaccine bank, which mitigates one of Australia's most significant animal disease risks.

 

Commonwealth's capacity to respond to pest and disease incursions

 

This measure includes increasing the Commonwealth's capacity to respond to pest and disease incursions, both in support of the states and territories (for example, through the National Biosecurity Response Team), and in Commonwealth places (for example, through the development and implementation of biosecurity management plans for priority Commonwealth places). 

 

The above measures will respond to the 2017 report 'Priorities for Australia's biosecurity system: An independent review of the capacity of the national biosecurity system and its underpinning intergovernmental agreement' (available at www.agriculture.gov.au), which recommends strengthening Australia's ability to prepare for priority pest and disease incursions.

 

Funding of $51.5 million was included in the 2018-19 Budget as part of the measure 'Australian Agriculture and Export Growth Plan - Enhancing Australia's Biosecurity System' for a period of four years commencing in 2018-19.  Details are set out in Budget 2018-19, Budget Measures, Budget Paper No. 2 2018-19 at page 70.

 

The department will be responsible for delivering these measures including developing and implementing national action plans, maintaining and building offshore intelligence gathering, prevention, preparedness, surveillance and capacity building, and increasing the Commonwealth's response capacity.  

 

Some activities under the Program may be delivered through the engagement of third-party service providers using a combination of grants or procurements, or grants to state and territory governments (for example, to develop or undertake a specific detection method for a priority pest or disease), as appropriate.

 

Funding decisions will be made on a targeted basis to support program outcomes and objectives.  The department may also initiate a competitive process to target specific program outcomes.  Where a competitive selection process is adopted, information about such process, including program guidelines and criteria, will be published on the departmental website at www.agriculture.gov.au.

 

Examples of activities that may be funded through non-competitive or competitive grants include the development and implementation of national action plans and management of specific activities to build and implement the required detection and diagnostic capability.  Procurement methods may include open tender, prequalified tender and limited tender, such as for the development of training materials to support effective emergency responses to pests and diseases.  This may include training on particular emergency response functions and activities.

 

Final spending decisions will be made by the Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources or his departmental delegate.

 

Payments will be made in accordance with the requirements of the relevant activity, including the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017 and departmental guidelines, as appropriate.  Information about procurement and grant opportunities and funding decisions will be made public on the Austender website at www.tenders.gov.au as required by the Commonwealth Procurement Rules and the GrantConnect website at www.grants.gov.au as required by the Commonwealth Grants Rules and Guidelines 2017.

 

Merits review is not applicable in respect of decisions made in relation to one-off or targeted funding given the non-competitive nature of the funding.  Where funds are allocated under a competitive selection process, with a limited allocation of funding available, such decisions are not considered suitable for merits review as an allocation that has already been made to another party would be affected by overturning the original decision.  Further information on review mechanisms and complaints handling will form part of the program guidelines.

 

Decisions in relation to expenditure through procurement will not be subject to independent merits review as they will be subject to the Commonwealth's resource management framework including the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

 

Funding for this item will come from Program 2.1: Biosecurity and Export Services and Program 2.2: Plant and Animal Health, which are part of Outcome 2.  Details are set out in the Portfolio Budget Statements 2018-19, Budget Related Paper No. 1.1, Agriculture and Water Resources Portfolio at pages 20, 51 and 52.

 

Noting that it is not a comprehensive statement of relevant constitutional considerations, the objective of the item references the following powers of the Constitution:

*         the trade and commerce power (section 51(i));

*         the quarantine power (section 51(ix));

*         the external affairs power (section 51(xxix));

*         the power to grant financial assistance to States (section 96);

*         the territories power (section 122);

*         the Commonwealth places power (section 52(i)); and

*         the Commonwealth executive power and the express incidental power
(sections 51(xxxix) and 61).

 

Trade and commerce power

 

Section 51(i) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to 'trade and commerce with other countries, and among the States'.

 

Measures enabled by the Program will involve the development and implementation of national action plans that are aimed at addressing the risks posed by priority agricultural pests and diseases to Australia's export market access.

 

Quarantine power

 

Section 51(ix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to quarantine.

 

Measures enabled by the Program will involve:

 

These measures will promote the surveillance of, and response to, diseases affecting animals or plants.

 

External affairs power

 

Section 51(xxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to 'external affairs'.  The external affairs power supports legislation implementing Australia's obligations under international treaties to which it is a party.

 

Australia is a party to the Convention on Biological Diversity [1993] ATS 32.  Article 8(h) provides that 'each Contracting Party shall, as far as possible and appropriate prevent the introduction of, control or eradicate those alien species which threaten ecosystems, habitats or species'.

 

Measures enabled by the Program will include the development and implementation of plans to address invasive pests and diseases that threaten native ecosystems, habitats or species.

 

The external affairs power also supports legislation with respect to matters or things outside the geographical limits of Australia.  The Program will involve activities to maintain and build on recent investment in offshore intelligence gathering, surveillance and capacity building for pests and disease control in neighbouring countries.


 

Power to grant financial assistance to States

 

Section 96 of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to 'grant financial assistance to any State on such terms and conditions as the Parliament thinks fit'.

 

Measures enabled by the Program will involve the Commonwealth providing grants of financial assistance to the States for the purposes of the States undertaking biosecurity related activities.

 

Territories power

 

Section 122 of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws for the government of a territory.

 

Measures enabled by the Program will involve the Commonwealth undertaking biosecurity related activities in the Territories.

 

Commonwealth places power

 

Section 52(i) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to 'places acquired by the Commonwealth for public purposes'.  The places referred to in section 52(i) are often called 'Commonwealth places'.

 

Measures enabled by the Program may involve biosecurity related activities occurring on land that is a Commonwealth place.

 

Commonwealth executive power and the express incidental power

 

The express incidental power in section 51(xxxix) of the Constitution empowers the Parliament to make laws with respect to matters incidental to the execution of any power vested in the Parliament, the executive or the Courts by the Constitution.  Together with the executive power in section 61 of the Constitution, the express incidental power extends to a range of matters, including:

 

The Program will include the development of national action plans and policy on priority pest and disease planning.  Funding will be provided to support activities and functions carried out by the Commonwealth and Commonwealth agencies, such as the Australian Animal Health Laboratory, under portfolio legislation.

 

Measures enabled by the Program will, for the benefit of the nation, assist in planning to mitigate one of Australia's most significant animal disease (foot and mouth disease).  A potential outbreak would have national significance and a coordinated national approach is required to manage this risk.



Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

 

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

 

Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Amendment (Agriculture and Water Resources Measures No. 1) Regulations 2018

 

These Regulations are compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

 

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

 

Section 32B of the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Act 1997 (the FF(SP) Act) authorises the Commonwealth to make, vary and administer arrangements and grants specified in the Financial Framework (Supplementary Powers) Regulations 1997 (the FF(SP) Regulations) and to make, vary and administer arrangements and grants for the purposes of programs specified in the Regulations.  Schedule 1AA and Schedule 1AB to the FF(SP) Regulations specify the arrangements, grants and programs.  The FF(SP) Act applies to Ministers and the accountable authorities of non-corporate Commonwealth entities, as defined under section 12 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013

 

The Regulations amend Schedule 1AB to the FF(SP) Regulations to establish legislative authority for government spending on two initiatives administered by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources.

 

Funding will be provided for:

*         payment of training and travel related expenses of personnel from Australia's trading partners and neighbouring countries to undertake biosecurity capacity building and training in Australia or other countries; and

*         the Priority Pest and Disease Planning, Surveillance and Response Program to strengthen Australia's ability to prepare for exotic and emerging priority pest and disease incursions by reducing the likelihood of a pest or disease entering, establishing or spreading in Australia, and by mitigating the impacts of those pests and diseases in Australia.

 

Funding for the Priority Pest and Disease Planning, Surveillance and Response Program was included in the 2018-19 Budget.

 

The Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources has responsibility for these matters.

 

Human rights implications

 

The Regulations do not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

 


 

Conclusion

 

These Regulations are compatible with human rights as they do not raise any human rights issues.

 

Senator the Hon Mathias Cormann

Minister for Finance


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