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Australia's Animal Health System
Australia is a federation of states and territories governed by an Australian Government, six state governments and two territory governments. The Australian Constitution sets out the powers of the Australian Government. The state and territory governments have exclusive authority in areas that do not come within the authority of the Australian Government.
Government-run veterinary services in Australia involve officers from the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and local government. A system of consultative committees ensures that these three levels of government work together to serve the overall interest of Australia. In addition, the interests of government and industry are served through Animal Health Australia, a public company whose members include the Australian Government, state and territory government, the peak national councils of Australia’s livestock industries and various key research, veterinary and educational organisations.
Additionally, to support these services, Australia’s animal health laboratory network facilitates international and domestic trade in livestock commodities and contributes to the health and productivity of Australia’s livestock industries.
Australian Government Responsibilities
The Australian Government is responsible for quarantine and international animal health matters, including disease reporting, export certification and trade negotiation. It also provides advice and coordination of national government policy, and in some circumstances financial assistance, for national disease control programs. See more information
State and Territory Government Responsibilities
Australian state and territory governments are responsible for disease control and eradication within their own boundaries. Each state and territory is subdivided into veterinary regions or divisions that are under the control of a government veterinary officer. Each region or division is further subdivided into animal health districts, which are administered by inspectors who may be veterinarians or qualified animal technicians. See more information
The Primary Industries Ministerial Council
The Primary Industries Ministerial Council (PIMC) was established in 2001 by agreement of Australian Federal, State and Territory Governments and forms the main forum for developing agricultural policies that are consistent with the objectives of the Australian Government and the state and territory governments of Australia. The Council, in conjunction with the Natural Resource Management Ministerial Council, has taken over the work of three previous bodies, namely the Agricultural and Resource Management Council of Australia and New Zealand (ARMCANZ), the Australia New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and the Ministerial Council on Forestry, Fisheries and Aquaculture (MCFFA)
The PIMC is supported by a single Standing Committee, the Primary Industries Standing Committee (PISC). This Standing Committee comprise the chief executive officers of the relevant Australian/State/Territory and New Zealand government agencies responsible for policy in these areas.
Animal Health Committee (AHC)
Several committees advise PIMC on specialist issues and in turn have their own infrastructure of subcommittees, working parties and expert panels that focus on particular areas within each committee’s terms of reference.
AHC (formerly VetCom) is a sub-committee of the PISC. The Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) of the Commonwealth, States, Territories and New Zealand, along with a representative from CSIRO, Biosecurity Australia and Animal Health Australia form the Committee.
AHC's primary purpose is to provide scientific and technical advice on animal health issues to PISC. In so doing, AHC contributes to national policy development on animal health issues. AHC conducts its business in close conjunction with Animal Health Australia, providing technical and policy advice and consulting over program development.
AHC meets twice a year face to face in a different state each time. The position of the Chair of the Committee is rotated annually between the CVOs. AHC members also meet regularly by teleconference to discuss issues of national importance. AHC drives and manages high level strategic policy development, operational strategies and standards for government in animal health, domestic quarantine, animal welfare and veterinary public health. More information on the AHC
Sub-committee on Emergency Animal Diseases (SCEAD)
SCEAD is a subcommittee of AHC and was established in May 2005 to develop, maintain and review national operating procedures and systems for use by all jurisdictions in disease control centre operations. In addition, it reviews and make recommendations on operational issues affecting EAD prevention, preparedness and response programs as well as cross-border responses. It also identifies resourcing issues associated with the implementation of national operational procedures for EADs. SCEAD aims to ensure the establishment of nationally consistent legislative frameworks for EAD preparedness and responses.