Summary

Australian National Audit Office conducted a performance audit of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry’s (the Department) management (planning, compliance with strategic plans, monitoring and reporting on activities and delivery) of the biosecurity workforce. Auditors noted systemic information management issues, the lack of an operational workforce plan and business continuity plans in some divisions, and inconsistencies in assessing the impact of biosecurity changes on workforce resource requirements. Amid the shortage of the biosecurity workforce, the Department supports staff through training, the development of decision support material, and funding for projects to update these materials. However, SAI Australia found insufficient oversight of biosecurity officer authorizations, improper storage of instructional materials, with 39% of biosecurity-related materials out of date, and a lack of regular verifications of staff competencies. The Department has systems in place to collect data on the biosecurity workforce, their activities and delivery of the biosecurity function, but data quality issues, a lack of linkages between systems, and ongoing record-keeping deficiencies limit the Department's understanding of workforce resource requirements and allocation. SAI Australia made seven recommendations to the Department to address identified deficiencies in the delivery of the biosecurity workforce.