On The Land
21 September, 2024
LNP commits $50m to boost biosecurity
LNP leader David Crisafulli has outlined a $50 million plan to beef-up biosecurity for the State, including promising to deliver another 100 biosecurity officers to be stationed at regional Department of Agriculture and Fisheries facilities in hotspots.
The funding boost, announced by Mr Crisafulli at the Rural Press Club, is part of a plan to tackle emerging threats of foot and mouth disease, Japanese encephalitis, African swine fever, avian influenza, varroa mite and other pests and diseases that pose a significant risk to Queensland’s world-class agricultural production.
He says strong biosecurity is critical to the ongoing success of Queensland’s $23.6 billion agricultural industry, with disease and pests able to decimate crops and herds within days of a major biosecurity breach.
“Our plan will bolster our frontline workforce with 100 additional staff within the Department to enforce and respond to biosecurity threats, including new stock inspectors, vets, agronomists, research and development and AgTech specialists,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“The LNP will put more biosecurity cops on the beat to protect our livestock and crops from biosecurity breaches.
“Our plan is a flag in the ground that the LNP is determined to restore Queenslanders’ trust in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries as a trusted advisor and partner to industry, not an inhibitor.
“Queensland’s produce is world-class but we must close Labor’s widening biosecurity gap to ensure these critical industries are protected for decades to come.
“Labor has created vulnerability in our northern line of defence by closing the Cape York Biosecurity Centre and fire ants have broken containment lines, threatening a swathe of prime agricultural land across southern Queensland.”
