{"id":230355,"date":"2019-03-06T15:47:51","date_gmt":"2019-03-06T05:47:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=230355"},"modified":"2019-03-06T18:09:39","modified_gmt":"2019-03-06T08:09:39","slug":"working-group-to-review-tick-line","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2019\/03\/06\/working-group-to-review-tick-line\/","title":{"rendered":"Working Group To Review Tick Line"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Agricultural Industry Development Minister Mark Furner<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 6, 2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

An industry group has been set up by the State Government to undertake a long-promised review of the cattle tick line.<\/p>\n

The announcement was made on Wednesday, and comes after repeated calls from Shadow Agriculture Minister Tony Perrett for a review to be undertaken.<\/p>\n

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said leading members of Queensland\u2019s livestock industries would take part in the Queensland Cattle Tick Line Review Working Group.<\/p>\n

\u201cBiosecurity Queensland\u2019s General Manager of Animal and Biosecurity Welfare, Dr Allison Crook, will chair the working group which will provide advice and support the review of the Queensland cattle tick line,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr Crook will be supported by representatives from Queensland Dairyfarmers\u2019 Organisation, Australian Livestock and Property Agents, Animal Health Australia, two independent cattle industry members and members from AgForce \u2013 one from the infested zone and one from the free zone.<\/p>\n

\u201cEffective cattle tick management is important for Queensland\u2019s beef industry as cattle tick can pose an economic threat if left unmanaged.<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing able to draw on the knowledge and experience of the working group members will be crucial for the cattle tick line review process, including guidance on its implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mr Furner said the working group was formed following a series of consultation workshops conducted by Biosecurity Queensland and AgForce in 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was apparent from those meetings that industry members had very clear views and opinions on the location of the cattle tick line, and the cattle tick management framework,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cForming the group is another example of the Palaszczuk Government\u2019s collaborative approach to managing biosecurity issues with industry.<\/p>\n

\u201cA key aspect of the working group will be the consideration of an ongoing review process, driven by producers, for the future management of the cattle tick line.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr Furner said the current cattle tick line arrangements were established following the introduction of the Biosecurity Act 2014 on 1 July 2016.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe current framework comprises a risk-based cattle tick management system, that provides flexibility for producers moving livestock across the tick line presenting opportunities for reduced costs for industry,\u201d Mr Furner said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt also has much stronger requirements for eradication of cattle tick infestations in the free zone.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we approach three (tick) seasons under the new framework, it is timely to consider the effectiveness of eradication campaigns and assess the positioning and sustainability of the tick line.\u201d<\/p>\n