{"id":20875,"date":"2013-01-18T21:53:03","date_gmt":"2013-01-18T11:53:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=20875"},"modified":"2023-11-21T20:46:29","modified_gmt":"2023-11-21T10:46:29","slug":"bjd-band-aid-no-solution-katter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2013\/01\/18\/bjd-band-aid-no-solution-katter\/","title":{"rendered":"BJD Band-Aid No Solution: Katter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Member for Mt Isa and former Katter's Australian Party leader Rob Katter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 18, 2013<\/strong><\/p>\n

Member for Mt Isa Rob Katter said today the State Government\u2019s compensation deal for producers affected by Bovine Johnes\u2019 Disease (BJD) is not the answer.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Queensland Government is still committed to its unrealistic and unnecessary policy of quarantine and eradication of BJD and it\u2019s this policy that is causing hardship for the producers,\u201d Mr Katter said.<\/p>\n

He said hundreds of high value bulls were being needlessly slaughtered throughout Queensland.<\/p>\n

“Agriculture Minister John McVeigh needs to take a step back and look at what his government\u2019s stance is doing to Queensland\u2019s beef industry,” Mr Katter said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s threatening the State\u2019s entire beef industry. This financial package is just a band-aid for temporary relief.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are currently 150 properties under quarantine or movement restriction since three animals with BJD were discovered on a central Queensland cattle stud last November.<\/p>\n

“Affected graziers are losing money and productivity waiting for testing,” Mr Katter said.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn the meantime, because the Newman government has moved to close down biosecurity testing labs in Townsville and at Toowoomba, the remaining lab at Coopers Plains in Brisbane cannot cope with the volume of tests.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the closures, two scientists and three or four laboratory assistants would remain to service the whole of the State, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a critical loss of experience and expertise at a time when it is most needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Katter said if the government was going to pursue its policy of quarantine, testing and eradication, then it must keep the biosecurity labs open so properties currently affected by BJD would be tested within the timeframes laid down by the government.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment, all suspect animals must first be tested at the convenience of the State testing facility and producers must then wait the three months of culture testing for a result,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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What Is Bovine Johnes\u2019 Disease?<\/strong><\/h3>\n