Biosecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and we must all play a role to ensure we minimise biosecurity risks to protect Queensland’s lifestyle, industries and environment from pests and diseases.
What is the General Biosecurity Obligation?
All people in Queensland have a general biosecurity obligation (GBO) under Queensland's Biosecurity Act 2014 to ensure they do not spread a pest, disease or a contaminant. This applies to corporations too.
This means everyone is responsible for managing biosecurity risks that are under their control; and to the best of their ability, recognise and minimise biosecurity risks within their industry, home, or places they are visiting.
Under the GBO, individuals and corporations whose activities pose a biosecurity risk must:
take all reasonable and practical steps to prevent or minimise each biosecurity risk
minimise the likelihood of causing a 'biosecurity event ', and limit the consequences if such an event is caused
prevent or minimise the harmful effects a risk could have, and not do anything that might make any harmful effects worse.
Steps to prevent or minimise a biosecurity risk
Come clean, go clean - before entering and leaving agricultural properties, parks or forests, ensure your shoes, clothing, vehicles or equipment are free from weed seeds, dirt, soil or debris.
Check for and follow biosecurity zones and other movement restrictions - before moving certain plant material, animals, food products, soil and related equipment, ensure you are aware of and comply with any requirements in your area.
Spot and report anything unusual - if this is the first time you have noticed a pest or disease, and you think it may have an impact on human health, social amenity, the economy or the environment, report it immediately to Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.
Know the property – before entering someone’s property, make sure you are aware of what their biosecurity management plan requires if there is one in place.
