SEMP Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan

Purpose

The Animal, Plant, Marine and Environmental Biosecurity Sub-Plan (‘the Plan’) outlines the arrangements for managing biosecurity emergencies in Victoria. The Plan has information on biosecurity prevention, preparedness, response, relief, and recovery. 

The Plan does not include human health emergencies or non-Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) wildlife emergencies. The term ‘environmental biosecurity’ includes ground and freshwater environments and ecosystems. We want to protect these from harmful pests or diseases.

The Plan reflects a joined-up approach for biosecurity management between government, agencies, industry, business, Traditional Owners, and the community. The Plan also describes shared responsibility in emergency management. 

The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) has written this Plan to align with national arrangements. The Plan includes input from a range of emergency management agencies. The Plan refers to a range of related plans, however, does not duplicate the content from these. Instead, this Plan has links to websites or other sources where the reader can get further information if needed. 

The Plan joins a suite of other hazard-specific plans (External link) as a sub plan of the State Emergency Management Plan (SEMP).

In keeping with the Victorian Emergency Management Act 2013 (External link) (the Act), major biosecurity emergencies are classified as ‘Class 2’ emergencies. The SEMP identifies DEECA as the Control Agency in Victoria for biosecurity incidents covering:

• emergency animal disease outbreaks (including aquaculture)
• emergency plant pest or disease outbreaks (including bee pests or diseases)
• high risk invasive plant, animal and exotic marine pest incursions.

This Plan does not cover other emergency management activities that DEECA delivers as a Support Agency, such as emergency animal welfare relief or agricultural loss and damage assessment in Class 1 emergency responses. These activities are described in other plans, including the Victorian Emergency Animal Welfare Plan (External link).

The Plan does not cover wildlife emergencies, which are defined within the SEMP and for which DEECA is the nominated Lead Agency. Response arrangements for these emergencies are defined within hazard specific wildlife response plans. 

This is the second version of the Plan under the Act. These arrangements are described at a point in time and there may be changes after reviews, evaluations of exercises and after biosecurity emergencies. Changes may occur through ongoing reform in the Victorian emergency management sector. 

As the Control Agency for biosecurity emergencies, DEECA is responsible for maintaining this Plan. The Plan will be reviewed every three years, in keeping with the provisions of the Act. If urgent updates are required, these may be made in keeping with s60AM of the Act. DEECA uses an integrated, unifying approach that aims to balance and optimise a range of components, including the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. 

This Plan has been endorsed by the State Crisis and Resilience Council (SCRC) as a Sub-Plan to the SEMP.

Objective

The objective of biosecurity is to minimise adverse impacts of pests and diseases on things we care about. This includes Australia’s economy, the environment, the community and international trade. Effective biosecurity is essential to the health of Victoria’s agricultural production, community, economy, and environment.

Updates to the SEMP following 2023 Machinery of Government changes

Responsible Control and Support Agencies for Response have been updated in Tables 9 and 10 of the SEMP. This reflects the Machinery of Government changes introduced in January 2023. 

Last updated 13 August 2024