Farmers cop increased Biosecurity Tasmania fees

THE increases in a wide variety of Biosecurity Tasmania fees from July 1 have drawn the ire of primary producers.

One of the major changes is the introduction of Property Identification Code application, renewal and amendment fees.

Among those unhappy about the PIC changes is Sassafras farmer Clint Wighton.

“Us beef cattle finishers and breeders need to maintain accreditation for Meat & Livestock Australia, Livestock Production Assurance, Greenhams Never Ever program and JBS’s Farm Assurance program,” Mr Wighton said.

“We are regularly audited, and all programs have measures related to biosecurity; we are doing everything we can and doing it well.

“On top of that, a mandatory Cattle Transaction Levy of $5/head is withheld by abattoirs and forwarded to the Federal Government to distribute to animal welfare and biosecurity programs.

“Where is this money really going if Biosecurity has their hands out for more?”

Mr Wighton regularly transports cattle from the mainland to Tasmania and said he happily pays Biosecurity Tasmania for their inspections at the wharf.

“I don’t understand how throwing money at a government department is going to help us do what we do well now, and to add insult, the proposed measures exclude people who own less than one animal that clearly would not participate in any mandatory programs that I do.”

A Tasmanian Government spokesperson said the agricultural industry had ample time to prepare for the new charges.

“The Property Identification Code regulations were introduced in 2024, with a two-year grace period on fees to ensure our property owners had time to adjust to the changes.

The PIC will ensure Biosecurity Tasmania can rapidly trace movements during a biosecurity incident, reducing the likelihood and severity of disease outbreaks that could impact the wider community.

“All fees are reinvested into biosecurity.”

Other fees that are increasing include ovine brucellosis administration fee, Audit of Registered Quarantine Place, professional services, Property of Origin, ​Registration of Registered Quarantine Place, as well as a number of authorised officer functions.

The fees will be increasing each financial year until 2028/29.

TasFarmers CEO Nathan Calman said he believed that producers would understand the need for Biosecurity Tasmania to increase its fees.

“I think what producers will also want to see is the services of government being adequately resourced,” Mr Calman said.

“All cost increases at the moment are challenging for primary producers to absorb.

“However, biosecurity is in everyone’s interest, so we always have to weigh these things up.”

One of the fees going up is a honey certification under an authorised officer function, with the hourly flat rate increasing from $103 to $117.

Tasmanian Beekeepers Association president Lindsay Bourke said those in the industry were already struggling and that the fee increase was an added stress for producers.

“They can’t make these things harder for us – it’s already too hard doing business,” Mr Bourke said.

“It’s very costly to be a beekeeper these days and it’s not attractive.”

A Biosecurity Tasmania spokesperson said it increased fees to support the delivery of its services.

“This is the first significant update we have made to our business fees in over a decade. 

“A 41 per cent ‘public good’ discount has been applied across all updated fees, reducing the total amount payable.

"The increases are being phased in over several years to provide a gradual approach, giving businesses and producers time to plan.”