Section 2 – Department Outcomes – 14 Biosecurity and Emergency Response
Outcome 14
BIOSECURITY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Preparedness to respond to national health emergencies and risks,
including through surveillance, regulation, prevention, detection and leadership
in national health coordination
Outcome Strategy
The Australian Government, through Outcome 14, aims to strengthen the nation’s
capacity and capability to protect the health of all Australians from threats posed
by communicable disease outbreaks, natural disasters, environmental hazards and
other incidents that may lead to mass casualties such as acts of terrorism. Through
development and maintenance of effective systems and networks to detect,
identify, and monitor threats, and by ensuring a level of preparedness through
effective planning across the health system and investment in the National Medical
Stockpile, the nation is well placed to meet current and future health protection
challenges.
In the event of a health emergency, the Government will use established and tested
plans and protocols. The Department will provide national leadership and
coordination when dealing with national health emergencies through chairing the
Australian Health Protection Principal Committee, working with states and
territories to prioritise the use of resources, and providing a clearing house for
information critical in managing an emergency response.
In addition, the Department will continue to provide human health risk assessment
and advice on the regulation of agricultural and veterinary chemical products,
drugs and poisons, and the import, export and manufacture of controlled drugs
and chemicals.
Outcome 14 is the responsibility of the Office of Health Protection.
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Outcome I 14
The Department will maintain links with other Australian Government agencies,
state and territory governments and international agencies, to obtain information
on current and emerging population health risks. The Department will maintain a
robust and timely communicable disease surveillance system to detect, assess and
respond to communicable disease threats in Australia and to Australians overseas.
Budget Statements – Department of Health and Ageing
Program Contributing to Outcome 14
Program 14.1: Health emergency planning and response
Outcome 14 Budgeted Expenses and Resources
Table 14.1 provides an overview of the total expenses for Outcome 14 by program.
Table 14.1: Budgeted Expenses and Resources for Outcome 14
Program 14.1: Health emergency planning and response1
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)
Non cash expenses - write down of assets2
Special Accounts
Human Pituitory Hormones Special Account
3
4
26,883
38,147
20,695
17,301
150
150
24,208
1,515
21,596
1,772
Total for Program 14.1
90,903
61,514
26,883
38,147
150
20,695
17,301
150
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation3
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year4
24,208
1,515
21,596
1,772
Total expenses for Outcome 14
90,903
61,514
2012-13
163
2013-14
147
Average staffing level (number)
2
2013-14
Estimated
expenses
$'000
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation3
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year4
Outcome 14 totals by appropriation type
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)
Non cash expenses - write down of assets2
Special Accounts
1
2012-13
Estimated
actual
$'000
This program includes National Partnerships paid to state and territory governments by the Treasury as part of
the Federal Financial Relations (FFR) Framework. National partnerships are listed in this chapter under each
program. For budget estimates relating to the National Partnership component of the program, please refer to
Budget Paper 3 or Program 1.10 of the Treasury Portfolio Budget Statements.
Non cash expenses relate to the write down of the drug stockpile inventory due to expiration, consumption and
distribution
Departmental appropriation combines "Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No 1)" and "Revenue from
independent sources (s31)".
"Expenses not requiring appropriation in the Budget year" is made up of depreciation expense, amortisation
expense, makegood expense and audit fees.
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Section 2 – Department Outcomes – 14 Biosecurity and Emergency Response
Program 14.1: Health emergency planning and response
Program Objectives
National health emergency planning and response
The Department works with the states and territories to manage national health
emergencies through the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee of the
Australian Health Ministers' Advisory Council. The Department contributes to the
development of response plans under the National Health Emergency Response
Arrangements to ensure effective responses to national health emergencies.
In 2013-14, the Australian Government will support national preparedness by
replenishing the National Medical Stockpile for major health emergencies.
Improve biosecurity, drug and chemical safety
The Australian Government will continue to improve biosecurity, drug and
chemical safety through regulatory schemes and control mechanisms. In 2013-14,
the Department will administer the Security Sensitive Biological Agents
Regulatory Scheme to reduce the threat of deliberate release of biological agents.
An independent panel, with the support of the Department, will review the
Commonwealth legislation underpinning the uniform system of controls for goods
containing scheduled substances as required under s52EC of the Therapeutic Goods
Administration Act 1989.
Minimise the risks posed by communicable diseases
The Australian Government is committed to strengthening Australia’s defences
against communicable diseases, including the spread of mosquito-borne diseases,
such as dengue fever. In 2013-14, the Department will continue an exotic mosquito
detection, control and elimination program and support for cross border
communications between Queensland and Papua New Guinea clinicians.
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Australia’s existing
ports and airports are able to respond to public health events, in compliance with
the World Health Organization (WHO) International Health Regulations (2005)
(IHR). In 2013-14, the Department will coordinate information exchange with the
states, territories and other countries to enable the tracing and management of
potentially infected people through the National Focal Point.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
The Australian Government is committed to providing national and international
leadership to help prevent and contain the spread of AMR. In 2013-14, the
Government will implement activities to respond to AMR, including through
219
Outcome I 14
The Department will continue to administer a licensing and permit regime for
controlled drugs in line with Australian legislation and international conventions;
provide human health risk assessment advice on the regulation of agricultural and
veterinary chemical products, drugs and poisons; and determine the need for
medicines and chemicals to be included in the Standard for the Uniform Scheduling of
Medicines and Poisons (SUSMP).
Budget Statements – Department of Health and Ageing
funding to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care to
improve national surveillance of antibiotic usage and resistance, and initiatives to
reduce costs relating to healthcare associated infections (funded under
Outcome 10.5).
Program 14.1 is linked as follows:



This Program includes National Partnership payments for:
Royal Darwin Hospital: Equipped, Prepared and Ready;
OzFoodNet; and
Continuation of mosquito control and cross border liaison in the Torres Strait.
Partnership payments are paid to state and territory governments by the
Treasury as part of the Federal Financial Relations (FFR) Framework.
For Budget estimates relating to the National Partnership component of the
program, refer to Budget Paper 3 or Program 1.10 of the Treasury’s Portfolio
Budget Statements.
The Attorney-General’s Department (Australian Customs and Border
Protection Service – Trade Facilitation – Program 1.2) for drug imports and
exports.
The Attorney General’s Department (Australian Customs and Border
Protection Service – Civil Maritime Surveillance and Response – Program 1.4)
for national health emergency response activities.
Program 14.1: Expenses
Table 14.2: Program Expenses
$'000
2014-15
Forward
year 1
$'000
2015-16
Forward
year 2
$'000
2016-17
Forward
year 3
$'000
26,883
38,147
20,695
17,301
20,706
25,978
21,098
6,407
21,486
12,814
150
150
160
160
160
Program support
25,723
23,368
23,156
23,335
23,839
Total Program 14.1 expenses
90,903
61,514
70,000
51,000
58,299
Annual administered expenses
Ordinary annual services
Non cash expenses1
2012-13
Estimated
actual
$'000
2013-14
Budget
Special account expenses
Human Pituitory Hormones
Special Account
1
Non cash expenses relate to the write down of drug stockpile inventory due to expiration, consumption and
distribution
220
Section 2 – Department Outcomes – 14 Biosecurity and Emergency Response
Program 14.1: Deliverables
Qualitative Deliverables for Program 14.1
National health emergency planning and response
Qualitative Deliverable
2013-14 Reference Point or Target
Develop, exercise and refine national health
emergency policy under the National Health
Emergency Response Arrangements
National Health Emergency Response
Arrangements will be exercised and revised
and a paediatric annex detailing the national
health response arrangements to a mass
casualty incident with paediatric casualties
will be developed
Improve biosecurity, drug and chemical safety
Qualitative Deliverables
2013-14 Reference Point or Target
Update and maintain the SUSMP
SUSMP to be amended as soon as practicable
after the Secretary’s, or the Secretary’s
delegate’s, final decision under the
Therapeutic Goods Regulations 1990
Review the Commonwealth legislation
underpinning the uniform system of
controls for goods containing scheduled
substances as required under s52EC of the
Therapeutic Goods Administration Act 1989
Review to start no later than 1 July 2013 and
to be completed within six months
Qualitative Deliverable
Manage and control exotic mosquito
populations to reduce the risk of disease
transmission in the Torres Strait and
mainland Australia
2013-14 Reference Point or Target
Regular mosquito surveillance to indicate
whether the mosquito population has
declined in the Torres Strait and not spread
to the mainland
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Outcome I 14
Minimise the risks posed by communicable diseases
Budget Statements – Department of Health and Ageing
Quantitative Deliverables for Program 14.1
Improve biosecurity, drug and chemical safety
Quantitative Deliverable
2012-13
Revised
Budget
2013-14
Budget
Target
2014-15
Forward
Year 1
2015-16
Forward
Year 2
2016-17
Forward
Year 3
Percentage of applications
for the import, export, and
manufacture of controlled
substances that are assessed
and processed within agreed
timeframes
95%
95%
95%
95%
95%
Program 14.1: Key Performance Indicators
Qualitative Key Performance Indicators for Program 14.1
National health emergency planning and response
Qualitative Indicator
2013-14 Reference Point or Target
Containment of national health emergencies
through the timely engagement of national
health coordination mechanisms and
response plans
National responses to health emergencies are
successfully managed
Improve biosecurity, drug and chemical safety
Qualitative Indicator
2013-14 Reference Point or Target
Perform human health risk assessments and
regulate access to chemicals and drugs
Chemical assessments completed in a timely
manner and authorisation to access drugs
and chemicals issued in accordance with
legislative requirements
Quantitative Key Performance Indicators for Program 14.1
Minimise the risks posed by communicable diseases
Quantitative
Indicator
2012-13
Revised
Budget
2013-14
Budget
Target
2014-15
Forward
Year 1
2015-16
Forward
Year 2
2016-17
Forward
Year 3
Percentage of designated
points of entry into Australia
capable of responding to
public health events, as
defined in the International
Health Regulations
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
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