The department has a leading role in minimising the impact of pests, diseases and contaminants on Australian agriculture the environment and people’s health. A key part of this work is conducting and participating in exercises that help government and industry be better prepared for, and able to respond to, exotic pest and disease threats.
Recently, the department has been involved in the following exercises:
- Exercise Border Bridge - 2018 (assessing a cross-jurisdictional response to a biosecurity incident)
- Exercise Athena - 2016 (promote awareness and support for the International Animal Health Emergency Reserve arrangement)
- Exercise Odysseus - 2014 (managing a national livestock standstill in response to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease)