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Objective

Recommendation

Key issues

Actions taken

Objective

To prevent the introduction of exotic pests and diseases.

Recommendation

It is recommended that the Department of Primary Industry and Fisheries and the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service develop performance measures and report annually on the effectiveness of the barrier control systems. The measures and reporting should describe the successes and failures of the barrier control systems.

Key issues

This information is available from Volume 2 of the last SoE Report (SDAC 1997), which can be downloaded. The final objective, final recommendation, and a summary of key management actions are detailed below.

Actions taken

There has been some progress in addressing this recommendation on quarantine performance measures since the previous SoE Report (1997), including the following.

• Changes in the reporting format of the Quarantine Services in 2001-02 have resulted in the availability of information on the percentage of the number of seizures per passenger from year to year. A decrease or increase in this percentage is reflective of the effectiveness of quarantine management and control measures.
   
• A strengthening of barrier controls and quarantine measures has been an outcome of the introduction of the European fox in Tasmania. These measures include additional restrictions on the movement of plant material into the State as well as additional staff and training.