Preventing pests and diseases

Exotic pests and diseases are species that don’t naturally live in Australia. They come from other countries – sometimes they’re native there, and sometimes they’ve become part of the environment over time. Even if they seem harmless where they come from, they can cause serious damage to our plants, animals, and seafood industries here in Australia.

Because we’re an island, Australia has a natural advantage – we’re a bit more protected. But we still need strong biosecurity to keep dangerous pests and diseases out.

That’s why the Australian Government:

• sets strict rules about what can come into the country
• acts quickly if a threat is found
• uses science, technology, and partnerships with other countries to stay ahead of biosecurity risks.

Biosecurity efforts are happening across Australia every day. In the next section, find out who’s involved and how we all work together to keep our country safe.

Preventing the entry of pests and diseases

The best way to protect Australia from pests and diseases? Stop them from getting in.

Prevention doesn’t just start at our borders. The Australian Government works with nearby countries like Papua New Guinea and Indonesia to help them strengthen their own biosecurity systems. When they’re strong, we’re safer too.

Australia takes careful steps to control what enters the country. Government experts:

• check global pest and disease alerts
• review the risk of new imports
• set strict rules for things like fruit, seafood, and plants.

Here’s how they keep watch:

• inspecting fruit and vegetables that are shipped in
• limiting what travellers can bring back from overseas
• using detector dogs to sniff out pests in bags and shipping containers
• setting smart traps near ports with sensors and cameras to catch threats early.

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

Even with strong systems, pests or diseases sometimes get past. If that happens, an Emergency Biosecurity Response is triggered.
This means:

• fast action from government, industry, and local communities
• quarantines and movement restrictions
• searching and destroying infected items
• public alerts to help stop the spread.

Sometimes a pest or disease becomes too widespread to remove completely. In that case, Australia shifts to managing the threat.
This involves:

• regular monitoring of crops and animals
• rarm hygiene (like disinfecting tools and gear)
• early warning systems to stop further spread.

Keeping pests and diseases out of Australia is a team effort. Click below to see how each group helps protect our farms, environment, and future.

The Australian Government	State and Territory Governments	Plant Health Australia
They make rules to keep pests and diseases out of Australia, work with our neighbouring countries, and check things at the border to stop pests and diseases from coming in	They set and enforce biosecurity rules in 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 & researchers	Communities
They use special practices to keep pests and diseases away from their farms. They also watch their crops and animals for any signs of pests and diseases and report them quickly.	Scientists and researchers 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 or diseases you see on plants. Also, follow quarantine rules by not moving fruits, vegetables, animals, or animal products to places where they are not allowed.

Want to learn how this works? Check out the e-learning course. You can also watch all of these people in action, in this video from the Australian government on the basics of biosecurity:

Domestic pest and disease controls

If an exotic pest or disease is found in Australia, the government can act fast by creating a biosecurity zone. This is a protected area where strict rules are put in place to stop the threat from spreading.

For example: If a crop-destroying insect is found on a farm, that area might be locked down. No plants, produce, or machinery can leave until the risk is gone.

You may see road signs around a biosecurity zone. They’ll warn you not to bring in or take out:

• fruit and vegetables
• animals
• machinery or equipment

These signs are serious and they’re there to protect farms, wildlife, and communities.

Want to know if a zone is near you?

Check your state or territory’s biosecurity website or visit: outbreak.gov.au

But it’s not just biosecurity zones that governments use to control pests, click on the tiles below to learn about other types of pest and disease monitoring and control that can be implemented domestically:

Traps and lures	Surveillance programs	Data mapping and modelling
Some pests can be attracted to traps using lures such as food, chemicals, or scents, allowing scientists to identify where they are and how they’re spreading.	Regular inspections by governments and farmers help catch pest or disease problems early before they become serious.	Scientists can use digital maps and software to track pest or disease spread and predict future movements to plan effective responses.
Barriers and Buffer Zones	Drones and Satellite Imaging	Public Awareness Campaigns
Physical or biological barriers, like fences or crops that are not affected, are used to contain pests and diseases and limit their spread.	Technology like drones and satellite images helps detect changes in plant health or animal movement linked to pest or disease presence.	Educating the public about biosecurity rules and pest identification helps prevent the spread of pests and diseases by encouraging early reporting and compliance.

Together, these tools create a strong biosecurity defence system. They help Australia stay ahead of pests and diseases and take fast, effective action when something goes wrong.

• E-learning – Biosecurity Heroes – Protecting our country
• Biosecurity – Protecting our Plants and Animals