MP Warns Against ‘Southern Push’ On BJD

March 5, 2016

Shadow Agriculture Minister Deb Frecklington has warned Queensland cattle producers to be wary of any ‘southern push’ to slacken regulations against Bovine Johne’s disease (BJD).

Mrs Frecklington said a strategic plan on BJD released by Animal Health Australia earlier this year would see Queensland drop quarantine restrictions and do away with its “protected zone” status.

“We need to be very cautious about any major change that could threaten the general health status of the Queensland cattle herd and its long-standing protected zone status,” she said.

“While the Animal Health report has been released for public comment, we should remain very cautious with regard to the 19,000 Queensland producers whose herds are not infected with BJD.”

Mrs Frecklington said BJD was endemic in southern Australia – particularly Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia – and while Queensland had dealt with a recent outbreak, it was dealt with successfully by working very closely with local industry and individual producers.

“All cattle producers, beef and dairy need to have a hard, critical look at what’s being proposed and I note the concern and caution of the Queensland Dairy Industry Association.”

Mrs Frecklington said the AHA report appeared very thin on detail.

“There are real risks to Queensland from any wholesale wind-back of either government regulation and government support for producers and assistance with dealing with outbreaks – because that is what’s being proposed with individual herd/property risk-based management,” she said.

“This may suit southern states and seedstock producers and their representatives, but the wider Queensland industry would appear to be most at risk, along with Western Australia, from any major change to current protocols.”

Mrs Frecklington said she was concerned the broader Queensland breeding industry had not been engaged in the debate, and thought it needed to be before any major decisions are taken.

“Many Queensland cattle producers have been flat out dealing with drought, no cash-flow, and proposals to change the tick-line. Now they’ve got a new plan from Animal Health in Canberra to dump our stance on BJD.

“I’m far from convinced that many Queensland producers actually know what’s going on here, and the danger is the frozen at the wheel Palaszczuk Labor government and the new Minister will simply go along with southern states and representatives for those with vested interests.”

The framework for a new national approach to managing BJD was released by Animal Health Australia in early February and is now being considered by all State and Territory governments.

The Queensland Dairyfarmers’ Organisation has also expressed concerns, describing the framework as “risky”.

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