Joint media release: 20 detector dogs recruited to safeguard our ag industry

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator the Hon Anthony Chisholm

The Albanese Government has delivered another election commitment with 20 new detector dogs added to Australia’s front-line biosecurity defences recently.

One-year old Labrador Retrievers Clyde and Yuzu were the latest dogs to graduate from the national biosecurity detector dog training program in Brisbane last month. 

Clyde and Yuzu are already on duty in Brisbane, sniffing out unwanted pests and diseases at Australia’s border.

The $11.7 million commitment to deliver 20 new detector dogs and 20 additional detector dog handlers is an important part of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthen Australia’s biosecurity system. 

The Government is committed to a strong biosecurity system and has committed funding of more than $1 billion over four years. 

This funding will ensure that for the first time in Australia’s history we have sustainable biosecurity funding to protect our agricultural industry, our natural environment and our way of life. 

In 2024, our biosecurity detector dog teams intercepted over 42,000 high-risk biosecurity items at the border.

More information on the Federal Government’s National Biosecurity Strategy can be found here. 

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

“This $11.7 million in extra funding has seen the Albanese Labor Government re-establish detector dog capability in Darwin, Cairns and Adelaide, meaning we are improving our screening for diseases that threaten our nation’s food security. 

“Australia’s biosecurity detector dog teams provide vital front-line screening activities that, in 2024 alone, has intercepted more than 42,000 biosecurity risk items at mail centres, airports and seaports. 

“The Government’s dogged efforts over 2023 and 2024 have delivered this budget measure boosting Australia's biosecurity efforts, enhancing our ability to detect and manage biosecurity risks arriving at airports, seaports, and mail centres.

"With the addition of 20 new detector dogs and 20 handlers, this initiative has strengthened our capacity to identify and respond to both known and emerging biosecurity threats.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Antony Chisholm:

“These detector dogs have proven that they’re fast, versatile and reliable. They can effectively screen goods and people in range of environments, including airports, mail centres and seaports.”

“The dogs and their handlers here in Brisbane are on the frontline when it comes to keeping Australia’s Ag industry safe from biological threats. They’re extremely dynamic, adapting to a range of diverse scenarios while demonstrating a highly effective biosecurity detection ability.

“Since their deployment into operations, the new detector dogs recruited under this budget measure have made an important contribution, detecting over 14,000 biosecurity risk items. 

“The invaluable contribution these 20 dogs, including Clyde and Yuzu, make toward safeguarding Australia's biosecurity has been made possible thanks to a team of expert trainers, so I’d like to congratulate them and the support staff for their invaluable contributions.”