Taking strong action on biosecurity in 2026

The Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity and continues to enforce Australia’s strict monitoring at our airports, seaports and mail centres – with strong action taken to prevent and respond to non-compliance.

While Australia’s biosecurity system is built on partnership and shared responsibility, individuals and businesses that ignore our strict requirements are subject to strong penalties, ranging from infringements, prosecution, imprisonment, and visa cancellations.

Once threats enter our country, they could harm our crops, livestock, and ecosystems – and if left unchecked, could significantly impact agriculture industries, our food supply, regional jobs, trade, and cost the economy billions of dollars.

That is why the Albanese Labor Government has delivered over $2 billion in additional resourcing to strengthen our world-leading biosecurity system, including to bolster our sophisticated network of enforcement activities.

Across 2025, biosecurity officers inspected over 280,000 commercial sea and air consignments, preventing tens of thousands of harmful pests, diseases and weeds from entering Australia.

Airport interceptions by biosecurity officers reached more than 359,000 travellers, with almost 64 tonnes of meat products being confiscated throughout last year.

Biosecurity detector dogs intercepted over 40,000 high-risk items at our airports, seaports and mail centres in 2025, with more than 9,600 detections in the international mail pathway alone.

These inspections led to strong penalties, including an Australian grape export company being fined more than $1 million for submitting false or misleading documentation to obtain phytosanitary certification and permits to export table grapes to New Zealand.

A woman was prosecuted for illegally importing more than 62,000 kilograms of illegal pork products, insect-infested fresh fruit and vegetables, frog meat and raw prawns for distribution on Sydney’s black market.

She was convicted of nine offences and sentenced to 24 months’ imprisonment, to be served by way of an Intensive Corrections Order, and ordered to complete 150 hours of community service.

A woman who illegally mis-declared a package as lingerie and shoes, when it actually contained 57 cacti and succulents, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment, and released on a Recognisance Release Order.

Under the Export Control Act 2020, corporate entities can be fined, civilly prosecuted and have their registrations revoked, while individuals may also face imprisonment.

Under the Biosecurity Act 2015, individuals convicted of illegal importation can face penalties of up to 10 years’ imprisonment and fines of up to $1.6 million.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:

“Illegal activity – whether bringing goods into Australia or sending products out – undermines Australia’s biosecurity and our strong global trade reputation.

“Illegal export activity can also negatively impact legitimate exporters, with significant flow-on effects for Australian farmers and our regional communities.

“There is zero tolerance for those who deliberately try to bypass Australia’s strict biosecurity requirements – you will be caught, and you will face the consequences.

“The laws in place are vital to the health of our economy, environment, and the future of Australia’s more than $100 billion agriculture, fisheries and forestry industries. 

“Australia is free from many of the pests, weeds and diseases that affect agricultural productivity and the environment in other parts of the world – and our biosecurity officers work tirelessly at our borders and in airports and mail centres to keep these threats out.

“We’ve delivered over $2 billion in additional biosecurity resourcing since 2022, have added 20 additional detector dogs around the country, and have more than 1,000 biosecurity officers across Australia’s international airports, seaports and mail centres.

“Our biosecurity system never stops, and the Albanese Labor Government will never compromise on biosecurity.”