Director of Biosecurity

The Director of Biosecurity is the person who is, or is acting as, the Agriculture Secretary. The Director is responsible for managing: Biosecurity risks: - the risk of contagion of a listed human disease; - the risk of listed human diseases entering Australian territory or a part of Australian territory, or emerging, establishing themselves or spreading in Australian territory or a part of Australian territory; - risks related to ballast water; - biosecurity emergencies and human biosecurity emergencies; and - complies with any general directions given by the Agriculture Minister under section 543; and any direction under section 168 to commence a Biosecurity Import Risk Analysis (BIRA) under the Biosecurity Act 2015. In addition, the Director ensures Australia's international rights and obligations, including under the International Health Regulations, the SPS Agreement and the Biodiversity Convention are met.