May 31, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n A new Crop Protection Officer will be stationed in Kingaroy – one of the 15 new biosecurity officers promised by the LNP in the lead-up to the State Election and announced by the government today.<\/p>\n Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh<\/strong> said the commitment to appoint the officers delivers on the government\u2019s promise to revitalise frontline services in the stand-alone Department.<\/p>\n The appointments are:<\/strong><\/p>\n “We are determined to make Agriculture one of the four pillars of our economy and have committed to doubling food production by 2040,” Mr McVeigh said.<\/p>\n “I’m under no illusions that this will be an easy task, but it’s a challenge me and my team are relishing.”<\/p>\n Mr McVeigh said the most immediate production gains would come from existing farms and producers. This would be achieved by the frontline officers helping in the fight to control ticks, weeds, wild dogs and other pests.<\/p>\n “My department will be taking a far stronger stance in protecting our primary industries from pests and weeds,” Mr McVeigh said.<\/p>\n “We’ll be getting back on the front foot to help farmers, not hinder them.<\/p>\n “Whether it is researchers developing a more disease-resistant strain of apple which produces greater yields with less chemicals, or stock officers working to stop the spread of ticks, DAFF will be doing much more of this type of work.<\/p>\n “That’s what producers need so they can get on with the job of producing more and using less, especially in terms of fertilizer, fuel and herbicide.<\/p>\n “Each position has been created in areas of high need and risk and will boost the levels of professional expertise to prepare for, detect and respond to biosecurity incidents.<\/p>\n “Hopefully this is just the start. I\u2019ve told my Director-General to find more savings so that more staff can be put on the frontline.”<\/p>\n Mr McVeigh also announced the appointment of former UQ Agribusiness Professor Dr Beth Woods as his new Deputy Director-General.<\/p>\n Together with Director-General Jack Noye, Dr Woods will help drive research and development along with extension and education in the department.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A new Crop Protection Officer will be stationed in Kingaroy – one of the 15 new biosecurity officers promised by the LNP in the lead-up to the State Election and announced by the government today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,36],"tags":[21],"yoast_head":"\n\n