Biosecurity Act 2015

For the purposes of this Chapter, and any other provision of this Act to the extent that it relates to this Chapter, biosecurity risk means (subject to subsection (2)):

the likelihood of a disease or pest:

entering Australian territory or a part of Australian territory; or

emerging, establishing itself or spreading in Australian territory or a part of Australian territory; and

the potential for any of the following:

the disease or pest to cause harm to human, animal or plant health;

the disease or pest to cause harm to the environment;

economic consequences associated with the entry, emergence, establishment or spread of the disease or pest.

However, if a pest is suspected of being, or is known to be, an invasive pest, biosecurity risk means:

the likelihood of the invasive pest:

entering Australian territory or a part of Australian territory; or

emerging, establishing itself or spreading in Australian territory or a part of Australian territory; and

the potential for the invasive pest to cause harm to ecosystems, habitats or species.

See sections 25 and 26 in relation to the application of this Act in relation to invasive pests.