Japan Ban Highlights BJD 'Risk' - southburnett.com.au

June 6, 2016

The LNP Opposition is again questioning the wisdom of the State Government’s move to dump Queensland’s “protected zone” status for Bovine Johne’s Disease in the wake of the recent Japanese ban on live cattle imports.

The ban follows dairy heifers from Australia testing positive for BJD upon arrival in Japan.

Shadow Agriculture Minister Dale Last said the latest development added further strong argument to Queensland retaining its hard-won protected status for BJD “against pressure from southern vested interest groups, faceless bureaucrats and agents”.

“The Palaszczuk Labor Government and Minister Leanne Donaldson are risking the best interests of Queensland’s 19,000 beef and dairy producers in dumping our protected zone status,” Mr Last said.

“Any decision to lower the Queensland herd health status could risk market access, which is about the last thing we need right now.”

Mr Last said Queensland should be following the lead of Western Australian and the Northern Territory which were not moving from their current “free” (WA) and “protected” (NT) zone positions.

“The push to self-management and self-reporting may suit southern States and producers where BJD is rife but for Queensland, what are the positives? What will be the long-term net economic benefits for our beef industry and our dairy industry?” he said.

“The Queensland Dairy Farmers’ Organisation has clearly stated it wants no change and beef producers I talk to don’t wish to see any change or lowering of protocols and want to see Queensland’s protected zone status maintained.

“The apparent failure of the testing regime for southern dairy cattle potentially provides an opportunity for Queensland dairy producers with their protected zone status to provide exports of clean cattle to Japan.”

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