The report, released this morning in Sydney by Agriculture Minister Tony Burke, is recommending a major overhaul of Australia's oft-maligned biosecurity system in order to combat growing threats of climate change, globalisation and agri-terrorism.

But it's going to come at a cost to the Federal Government, with a $260 million a year increase in funding required, as well as a $225m information technology upgrade.

The report, One Biosecurity: A Working Partnership, was prepared by an expert panel chaired by Roger Beale.

The report makes 84 recommendations, which Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke, said represents the biggest reforms to the biosecurity system in more than a century.

Key recommendations include:

• Establi sh a new national authority which brings together the major functions of Biosecurity Australia, the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service and parts of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry;
• Establish a new biosecurity standards commission to assess the biosecurity risk of imports, with greater emphasis on risks to human health and the environment;
• Develop new biosecurity legislation to replace the Quarantine Act which is a century old;
• Appoint an Inspector-General of Biosecurity with broad powers to audit and investigate the Authority’s work;
• Establish a new council of experts to advise government;
• States, territories, industry and the Commonwealth must coordinate better to monitor biosecurity after goods and people enter the country, not just at the border.

Mr Burke said the Federal Government has accepted all 84 recommendations in-principle, but more consultation was needed on how to implement the findings and fund the reforms.

Interim administrative arrangements will take effect from 1 July 2009.