Citrus Australia welcomes scrapping of Biosecurity Protection Levy

Citrus Australia CEO Nathan Hancock has praised the Federal Government’s decision to scrap the proposed Biosecurity Protection Levy, calling it a fair move and a win for farmers.

“Biosecurity remains a shared responsibility,” said Mr Hancock.

“It is an essential part of protecting Australia’s agricultural industry, economy, environment, and communities – but Citrus Australia has long maintained the now-scrapped levy would have placed an undue cost on growers, who already invest heavily in on-farm biosecurity measures.”

Mr Hancock said the government must now prioritise biosecurity funding through consolidated revenue, ensuring real protections for agriculture and beyond.

“Citrus Australia remains committed to working with the government on sustainable, long-term solutions which support Australian growers and safeguard our biosecurity future.”

With the levy off the table, industry leaders are now urging the government to engage in meaningful discussions on a funding model which will ensure effective biosecurity measures without disproportionately impacting growers.

“By securing adequate and fair funding, Australia’s agricultural sector can continue to thrive while maintaining strong defences against biosecurity threats,” Mr Hancock said.

Explainer: What was the Biosecurity Protection Levy?

The Biosecurity Protection Levy was a proposed policy that would have required farmers to contribute $50 million annually toward national biosecurity measures.

The aim was to create a sustainable funding model to protect agriculture from pests and diseases.

However, many in the agricultural sector, including Citrus Australia, opposed the levy, arguing it placed an unfair financial burden on growers while failing to address biosecurity threats posed by imports.

The bill faced strong resistance and lacked necessary political support, leading to its withdrawal from parliament.

The government now intends to explore alternative funding mechanisms that ensure Australia’s biosecurity remains strong without unfairly targeting primary producers.

For more information: Biosecurity levy bill scrapped by federal government in ‘huge win’ for farmers – ABC News