Methodology to guide responses to marine pest incursions under the National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (CEBRA Project 1608E)

The National Environmental Biosecurity Response Agreement (NEBRA) establishes the national cost-sharing arrangements between the Commonwealth, States and Territories for responding to significant pest and disease incursions, including in the marine context. When an incursion is of national significance, potentially eligible for cost sharing under NEBRA, and likely to be eradicable, the notifying party responsible for the original notification must supply additional information to assist with decision-making. A benefit-cost analysis (BCA) is one of these key pieces of information.
Development of the initial BCA must be undertaken relatively quickly and ideally by staff with experience in developing BCAs. A particularly difficult aspect of BCA development is identifying and valuing the ‘non-market’ impacts of the pest on marine environments. In the time-critical context of responding to a marine pest incursion it can be difficult to find (or reallocate) in-house staff with skills in developing BCAs in general, or for marine pest incursions in particular. Some jurisdictions outsource BCA development to consultants experienced in BCA. However, resources may not be available to outsource development of the BCA in all cases.
This report provides guidance to staff within jurisdictions – economists and noneconomists – on preparing a BCA for a marine pest incursion. A set of notated guidelines takes staff through the steps required in a BCA and detailed advice is provided in a series of appendices. The guidelines are based on those provided by the Office of Best Practice Regulation, and are consistent with requirements of the NEBRA. They are also intended to improve consistency in BCA development. While only responses that aim at eradication are considered for cost-sharing under the NEBRA , the guidelines in this project would be equally applicable to BCA developed for other management options.