Who's Who	Events	Legislation	Biosecurity Code Examples

Australia

Who's Who Top

Government

Governmental actors with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. This is not a guide to overall governmental structure. Some departments listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC)

Comment: COMING SOON

Division(s) within the Office of the President with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Science Engineering and Technology Unit for Counter-Terrorism

 

Department / Ministry / Agency:

Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry

Comment: COMING SOON

 

Defence

Comment: COMING SOON

Division(s) within the Department of Defence with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Defence Trade Control and Compliance
• Joint Health Support Agency

 

Education, Science, and Training (DEST)

Comment: COMING SOON

Division(s) within DEST with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Cooperative Research Centres Program

 

Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAT)

Comment: COMING SOON

Division(s) within DFAT with a role or interest in biosecurity:

• Arms Control and Counter Proliferation

 

Specialized Institutes / Centers:

Biosecurity Australia

Comment: COMING SOON

 

National Academies & Academia

Though research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding Australian universities or national academies actively working on biosecurity. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Industry

Though research is ongoing, we currently have no information regarding Australian companies actively working on biosecurity. Any information that should be included on this site can be sent to webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

Research Institutes & Non-Profits

Institutes and organisations with a direct or indirect role in biosecurity and scientific oversight are included here. Some groups listed here may have only a marginal interest or role in biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

 

AusBiotech

Comment: AusBiotech is the Biotechnology Industry Organization for Australia. On behalf of its more than 2400 members, it is dedicated to strengthening and improving Australia's biotechnology industry. AusBiotech has developed a Code of Conduct.
Contact: + 61 (0)3 9208 4200

 

The Australian Biosecurity Cooperative Research Centre (ABCRC)

Comment: ABCRC aims to protect Australia's public health, livestock, wildlife and economic resources through research and education that strengthens the national capability to detect, diagnose, identify, monitor, assess, predict and respond to emerging infectious disease threats which impact on national and regional biosecurity.
Contact: + 61 (0) 8 9266 1650

 

The Australian Society for Microbiology (ASM)

Comment: ASM was formed to further the science of microbiology. In order to achieve this, ASM publishes materials, convenes symposia, and establishes suitable standards for the practice of microbiology. ASM also attempts to promote public awareness of microbiology an its every day application by liaising with government and industry officials. ASM has developed a Code of Ethics for its members.
Contact: + 61 (0) 3 9867 8699

 

Events Top

This is a list of events relevant to biosecurity. This is a “living” document and comments about the content or any potential omissions are welcome. Please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

2006

2nd Biological Weapons Convention Regional Workshop
Date: 6-7 March, 2006
Location: Bali, Indonesia
Participants: The Australian and Indonesian governments along with regional neighbors
Description: Following on a regional workshop held in February 2005, "The objectives of the Second Workshop were to promote regional awareness of and engagement in the BWC; to discuss the importance of bio-security; to examine national mechanisms for maintenance of the security and oversight of pathogenic micro-organisms and toxins; to facilitate the establishment of a forum for networking with a view to developing partnerships in enhancing bio-security and bio-safety; and to provide a forum for sharing of information."

 

2005

Biological Weapons Convention Regional Workshop
Date: 21 - 25 February, 2005
Location: Asia-Pacific Centre for Military Law, University of Melbourne, Australia
Participants: The Australian and Indonesian governments
Description: Workshop participants discussed the obligations of States Parties to the BWC, codes of conduct for scientists involved in biological research, different approaches to national implementing legislation, biological defence and surveillance, detection and combating of infectious diseases.

 

2001

Publication of "Expression of Mouse Interleukin-4 by a Recombinant Ectromelia Virus Suppresses Cytolytic Lymphocyte Responses and Overcomes Genetic Resistance to Mousepox"
Date: February, 2001
Location: Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
Participants: Ronald J. Jackson, Alistair J. Ramsey, Carina D. Christensen, Sandra Beaton, Diana F. Hall and Ian A. Ramshaw
Description: While researching a strain of "mousepox" intended to eradicate mice in Australia, researchers made an unexpected discovery that an engineered version of the "mousepox" virus was potentially lethal to even those mice that had been immunized against the original strand. This publication was met by harsh criticism by some in the political and security communities for its potential application in bioterrorist attacks.

 

Legislation Top

Below is a select list of laws in Australia. As biosecurity is a relatively new and rapidly developing field, many countries have yet to devise or implement laws specific to biosecurity. Since biosecurity has much in common with national security, biosafety, bioterrorism, biological weapons, import / export of dual-use materials, and biodiversity, some countries may develop biosecurity legislation by adapting existing laws within these other areas. Therefore, biosecurity legislation and other laws that could potentially be used as background for biosecurity legislation are included here.

 

• Weapons of Mass Destruction Act

  • Date: 1995
  • Comment: This act prohibits the sale of relevant materials or services to states or organisations that are suspected of pursuing weapons of mass destruction.

• The Biological Control Act 1984

  • Date: 22 November, 1984
  • Comment: This legislation criminalizes the release of controlled agents, specifically those on the Australia group list. This act has been revised numerous times as the list of items covered expands.

 

Biosecurity Code Examples Top

Below are codes of conduct for life scientists that have been proposed, are in use, or are under development in Australia. If there are any other codes that should be included on this site, please contact webmaster@biosecuritycodes.org.

AusBiotech: Code of Conduct

The Australian Society for Microbiology Code of Ethics