3Objects of Act

3 Objects of Act

The objects of this Act are –

(a) to ensure that responsibility for biosecurity is shared between government, industry and the community; and

(b) to protect Tasmania from –

(i) pests, diseases and other biosecurity matters that are economically significant for Tasmania; and

(ii) threats to terrestrial and aquatic environments arising from pests, diseases and other biosecurity matters; and

(iii) risks to public health and safety arising from pests, diseases and other biosecurity matters known to have an adverse effect on human health; and

(iv) pests, diseases and other biosecurity matters that may have an adverse effect on public amenities, community activities and infrastructure; and

(c) to provide a regulatory framework in relation to biosecurity that –

(i) facilitates emergency preparedness and the effective management of biosecurity emergencies that may affect Tasmania; and

(ii) takes account of regional and local differences in respect of biosecurity risks and biosecurity impacts; and

(iii) supports an evidence-based approach to the assessment, prevention and management of biosecurity risks and biosecurity impacts; and

(iv) does not require a biosecurity risk to be proven with full certainty before taking reasonable and practicable measures to prevent, eliminate or minimise the risk; and

(d) to give effect to –

(i) biosecurity-related strategies and policies developed, or endorsed, by the Tasmanian Government; and

(ii) intergovernmental agreements related to biosecurity to which Tasmania is a party; and

(e) to facilitate the trade of Tasmanian produce by ensuring that it meets national and international biosecurity requirements; and

(f) to promote compliance with the general biosecurity duty through emergency preparedness, effective enforcement measures, and communication and collaboration between government, industry and the community.