News / 'Unfair' Australian biosecurity tax just a 'smokescreen of spin', says industry

Large crowd of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug © Steveheap | Dreamstime.com

Fourteen industry associations in Australia have called on the government to scrap its “reckless” and “unfair” biosecurity tax on maritime imports.

Scheduled to begin in July, the Biosecurity Import Levy will raise A$10.02 per teu (US$7) and A$1 per tonne of non-containerised cargo, with the government aiming to collect around $360m over three years.

The tax coincides with increased supply chain disruption due to crop-eating pests called Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs.

Acknowledging the need for strong biosecurity, the industry groups claim the tax ...