Keeping bugs and diseases out

Some bugs and diseases are called exotic. That means they don’t belong in Australia. They come from other countries where they might live naturally–but if they arrive here, they can cause a lot of harm.

Exotic bugs and diseases can sneak into Australia in many ways:

• on fruit, plants, or wood products from overseas
• in people’s luggage or clothes after travelling
• inside packages or shipping containers.

That’s why we have strict biosecurity rules in place – especially at airports and seaports. These rules help stop these bugs and diseases before they can spread.

We’ve mentioned that exotic bugs and diseases are bad – but what does that mean, and where do they come from? Exotic bugs and diseases mean they don’t naturally belong in Australia and come from other countries where they live. These bugs and diseases might even be an important part of the environment there, but if they got into Australia they could cause a lot of damage to our animals, plants and seafood because our environment is different to their natural one.

There are many ways exotic bugs and disease can enter Australia. They can come in on international airplanes, products we’re importing or even in shipping containers. They can be hard to detect so, to stop them from entering, the Australian government has strict biosecurity rules and activities, and they do lots of things to look out for them. This can mean doing things like:

• looking at fruit and vegetables that are shipped to Australia to inspect them for any signs of pests and diseases
• having rules about what you can bring back in your luggage from an overseas trip
• using detector dogs to sniff out any pests and diseases in suitcases or shipping containers
• and much more!

Many people are involved in biosecurity. Check out the next sections to hear about who does what in Australian biosecurity.

If a pest or disease does make it to Australia we have another line of defence by trying to stop it at our border. You may have seen signs at the airport telling people about what can and can’t be brought into Australia.

Quarantine officers are people who inspect luggage, mail and cargo at airports and shipping docks, to make sure that only those things that are allowed into Australia are brought in.  

Check out this video from the Australian Department of Agriculture, who inspect things at the border and decide what can come into the country.

Who helps with biosecurity?

Biosecurity is a team effort! Lots of people work together to protect Australia:

• The Australian Government: Makes national rules and checks what enters the country
• State and Territory Governments: Help stop pests in their local areas
• Plant Health Australia: Works with Governments, farmers and scientists to keep bugs and diseases from spreading across Australia
• Farmers and scientists: Watch for signs of pests and diseases
• Communities: That’s you! You can help by reporting anything unusual

The Australian Government	State and Territory Governments	Plant Health Australia
They make rules to keep bugs and diseases out of Australia, work with our neighbouring countries, and check things at the border to stop pests from coming in.	They make biosecurity rules for their areas. They help get rid of pests and diseases and control what fresh produce can come into their state.	Coordinates a government-industry agreement on how resources are allocated in response to an Emergency Plant Pest (EPP) event. Animal Health Australia does the same for Emergency Animal Diseases.
Farmers	Scientists	Our Community
They try to keep pests away from their farms. They also look for any signs of pests and diseases in crops and animals   and report them quickly.	Scientists study pests and diseases and come up with ways to stop them from harming plants and animals.	You can help by reporting any strange pests you see on plants and by following quarantine rules; this means not moving fruits, vegetables, animals, or animal products to places where they are not allowed.

If a pest or disease can’t be stopped and starts to spread, governments, farmers, and scientists work together to manage it. Their goal is to reduce the impact on our plants, animals, and environment.

See how they do it:

Biosecurity rules

When a serious pest or disease is found, the government can put emergency rules in place to stop it from spreading. For example, a farm may be locked down that means no plants, animals, or machinery can leave until it’s safe to do so.

Other rules may include:

• checking vehicles, clothing, and equipment for pests or germs
• cleaning and disinfecting boots and tools
• treating or removing infected plants or animals.

These steps help protect other farms, the environment, and our food supply.

These rules are sometimes called biosecurity zones. These zones help stop pests and diseases from spreading. If you’re in one, you may see road signs telling you not to move animals, plants, or machinery in or out.

To see if there’s a zone near you, visit your state or territory’s website or check outbreak.gov.au.

Do you think you could help keep pests and diseases out of Australia? Test your knowledge with the following activities

• Find the pest and disease word
• What do Biosecurity Detector Dogs Do?
• Where do biosecurity threats come from?
• Biosecurity Bite: Exotic Plant Pests
• Biosecurity detector dogs safeguarding Australia