HASTE - Enhancing rapid decision-support for emergency animal disease outbreaks

Outbreaks of emergency animal diseases present significant threats to Australia’s livestock industries, food security, trade access, and biodiversity. These events can disrupt supply chains, halt livestock movements, and damage international market confidence, leading to long-lasting economic, environmental, and social consequences. The impact on animal welfare is also considerable, with potential suffering for affected animals, while community wellbeing can be closely tied to the health of animals and the local economy, especially in regional areas.

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped expectations around decision-making in infectious disease emergencies, demonstrating how governments use epidemiological modelling, scenario planning, and real-time data to inform policies and justify actions. During the pandemic, sophisticated modelling evolved from a background tool to a central, visible part of decision-making, offering transparency and enabling public scrutiny. This shift underscored the importance of data-driven, participatory decision-making frameworks in securing trust and cooperation.

In the animal health and biosecurity sectors, decision-making processes are typically informed by experts and led by government authorities and industry peak bodies. While these decisions are critical, there is an increasing opportunity to enhance the accessibility and transparency of the decision-making tools used by these key stakeholders. By improving the integration of data-driven models into these processes, HASTE aims to ensure that decision-makers have more accurate, real-time information to guide their responses to animal disease outbreaks. This more robust and transparent approach helps build trust within the system and supports the effectiveness of biosecurity measures at a national level.