Tick Line Draws 1000 Submissions

20160216 Leanne Donaldson — Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Leanne Donaldson

March 1, 2016

The State Government has received more than 1000 submissions and received feedback from more than 1000 people at public meetings about the future location of the cattle tick line.

Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson said the consultation process, which ended on February 29, had ensured all interested parties had been heard.

“The submissions and feedback will guide the final decision on the location of the tick line,” the Minister said.

“The information we have gathered will now be reviewed by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and a final decision will be based on minimising the impacts of cattle ticks on Queensland’s livestock industry as a whole.

“All through this process we have been committed to listening to what producers want.”

The Minister said the location of the tick line needs to take into account local knowledge and the special situation of each individual region.

However she was confident the Government now had the information needed to make the best possible decision.

Minister Donaldson said staff from her department had attended 19 public meetings hosted by AgForce and community groups along the current tick line, and in some regions strong opposing opinions had been expressed.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank AgForce for the work it has done to ensure all producers have been fully informed.” the Minister said.

“I also want to thank all those who have taken the opportunity to be heard during the consultation period. This is a vital issue for Queensland’s livestock industry and it is inevitable that opinions vary.

“This is the first opportunity in 30 years for broad industry consultation to improve cattle tick management in Queensland.”

About 85 per cent of respondents agreed the tick line should be positioned to provide the greatest possible protection for the tick-free zone.

Key facts:

The new cattle tick line will commence on 1 July 2016 as a provision of the Biosecurity Act 2014.

Consultation with key stakeholders and industry representatives included face-to-face meetings with cattle producers. There have been 19 public meetings hosted by AgForce and community groups. At those meetings Biosecurity Queensland representatives listened to feedback from more than 1000 people.

More than 600 online submissions and approximately 400 written surveys were also received.

The Government is examining three options for the tick line: making the current free zone the new tick line; making the current free and control zones the new tick line; or creating a new free zone by aligning the tick line with major double fenced roads