Cattle tick regulations set to change

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Bill Byrne has announced the development of draft regulations for the control and management of cattle ticks will commence this month in order to get the wheels in motion on the management of cattle ticks in Queensland.

Minister Byrne approved the draft regulations that will be developed by the Department of Agriculture under the Biosecurity Act 2014 for the control and management of cattle ticks in Queensland.

“The management of cattle tick has long been a contentious issue and this government is committed to engaging and listening to the views of all those affected before making a decision,” Minister Byrne said.

“My department has commenced consultation with key stakeholders and industry groups to inform the drafting of the new regulations.”

Biosecurity Queensland Director Ashely Bunce said broader community consultation would commence shortly seeking input particularly from those producers living along the tickline who would be most affected by any changes to cattle tick regulations.

“During consultation on the Queensland Biosecurity Regulation – Regulatory Impact Statement last year, three options for cattle tick management were put forward,” Mr Bunce said.

“The preferred cattle tick management strategy, Option 2, is to create two biosecurity zones, infected and free, with movement restrictions on host species travelling from the infested area to the free area.

“The general consensus across industry stakeholders throughout consultation is that two cattle tick zones are preferable to reduce red tape and confusion.”

Minister Byrne said this Government was determined to see an end to the confusing cattle tick control zone. Part of Queensland will be a cattle tick free zone and the remainder will be an infected area.

“In determining the location of the tickline, consideration will be given to the sustainability and integrity of the free zone and the costs and impacts on both industry and government,” he said.

“Every effort will be made to locate the tickline in the most sustainable or defendable position utilising buffers including environmental, natural or man-made features that will impede cattle tick infestations or propagation of ticks when they do occur.

“Consultation with the broader community will commence in late October 2015 and will look at key issues such as the location of the tickline, requirements for crossing the tickline with livestock and management of cattle tick infestations in the free zone.”

For more information on cattle tick control in Queensland visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or contact Biosecurity Queensland on 13 25 23.