November 18, 2014
Agriculture Minister John McVeigh has reminded landholders that submissions on the new Biosecurity Act are due this Friday (November 21).
Mr McVeigh said Biosecurity Queensland was reviewing 12 pieces of legislation relating to biosecurity with a view to consolidating them into one regulation to sit under the new Biosecurity Act 2014.
“The proposed changes would affect industry, individuals in the community, and the community at large and we need your feedback,’” Mr McVeigh said.
The proposals affect property owners, cattle producers, apiarists – in fact, just about everyone in rural Queensland, including anyone who keeps a few chooks in the backyard.
Mr McVeigh said already there’d been plenty of feedback on Property Identification Codes (PICs) and options for cost-recovery.
“Some landholders have focussed on suggested options with PICs, but they need to remember that these are options only and no final decision on cost-recovery has been made.”
Mr McVeigh said Biosecurity Queensland valued input from stakeholders in developing new arrangements to deal with the complex issues relating to biosecurity in Queensland.
“As with all proposed changes to legislation, a consultation regulatory impact statement (RIS) has been released so that public comments can be considered before the government made any final decisions.
“The RIS explains why new legislation is needed, describes options for regulation, and details the impacts of each option.
“I stress that no final decisions have been made,” Mr McVeigh said.
- External link: Biosecurity Act Review
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Submissions can be submitted via mail or email by 5:00pm Friday, November 21.
Postal address:
Biosecurity Regulation— Draft Regulatory Impact Statement
Biosecurity Queensland
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
GPO Box 46
Brisbane, Qld, 4001
- Related article: Have A Say On Biosecurity Laws
