{"id":15344,"date":"2012-11-06T19:04:08","date_gmt":"2012-11-06T09:04:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=15344"},"modified":"2024-03-21T15:13:11","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T05:13:11","slug":"new-crop-protection-officer-takes-up-post","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2012\/11\/06\/new-crop-protection-officer-takes-up-post\/","title":{"rendered":"New Crop Protection Officer Takes Up Post"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington, new Crop Protection Officer Michael Benham and
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 6, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

The South Burnett’s new Crop Protection Officer Michael Benham was welcomed to the Kingaroy based role today by Agriculture Minister John McVeigh.<\/p>\n

Mr McVeigh, who was attending this morning’s Cabinet meeting in Kingaroy, said the new position would be “a great asset” for the region’s rural producers.<\/p>\n

“The appointment is one of 15 new frontline positions created to deliver on-the-ground assistance to regional Queensland communities,” he said.<\/p>\n

Mr Benham is a fourth generation primary producer with 25 years experience as a farmer, grazier and citrus grower in both the Central Burnett and Central Highlands, as well as representing industry bodies.<\/p>\n

He also holds qualifications in horticulture and agriculture, and worked as a Biosecurity Inspector in Emerald for the past three years.<\/p>\n

Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington congratulated Mr Benham on his appointment.<\/p>\n

“Having managed broad-acre cropping properties myself, I know how important it will be for the growers to have local support,” she said.<\/p>\n

Mr McVeigh said the Newman Government is revitalising the biosecurity front line by recruiting talented, passionate people to fulfil these roles.<\/p>\n

“Positions have been created in known biosecurity risk areas to boost the already high level of professional expertise needed to prepare for, detect and respond to biosecurity incidents.<\/p>\n

“Biosecurity Queensland is a dynamic agency within the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) which plays a critical part in strengthening the protection for our agriculture industry.”<\/p>\n

Mr McVeigh first flagged the creation of the new position in May this year.<\/p>\n

The decision was welcomed by Agforce at the time as “a positive first step”, but local grazers said they thought the South Burnett had a greater need for a new Tick Officer.<\/p>\n

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