Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson has extended the public consultation period for comment on the location of the cattle tick line by a month.
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The move comes after hundreds of beef producers attended heated public meetings along the tick line over the weekend to voice their concerns about the options proposed.
Minister Donaldson said it was vital more producers had time to have their say.
“In particular we want to hear the views of property owners who live along the existing tick line and they, and everyone else, now have until February 29 to make themselves heard,” she said.
Bim Struss, AgForce Cattle president, welcomed the Minister’s decision.
“This is exactly what the industry wants and in AgForce we are very appreciative that the Minister has responded so positively to our concerns,” said Mr Struss.
“I am confident through consultation and collaboration we can get the best outcome for the industry.”
Minister Donaldson said that for the first time in 30 years there was an opportunity to amend the location of the tick line.
Her department has proposed three options for debate:
- Existing control zone (buffer zone) is moved into the infested zone
- Existing control zone is moved into free zone
- Redrawing the tick line through the current control zone. Several hundred properties in the current control zone could end up moving into infested zone under this option
“The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries has been consulting with industry representatives since last August to determine how the government can best assist producers to manage the impacts of cattle ticks which cost the sector millions of dollars every year,” the Minister said.
“It is vitally important that we have a sustainable system in place to minimise the impact of cattle ticks.
"In addition to our cattle tick online survey, we are also attending public forums in towns along the tick line to meet face-to-face with producers to ensure we have heard from producers living along the tick line.
“To date there have been 326 submissions and plenty of face to face consultation with key stakeholders.
"The feedback we receive will inform a new cattle tick management framework for Queensland that meets the needs of our diverse and rapidly changing livestock industry."
But Shadow Agriculture Minister Deb Frecklington has criticised the Minister for planning “secret” meetings on the tick issue in Kingaroy tomorrow (Tuesday).
“I’m disappointed because this is a major issue for our region - with nearly 200 landholders attending Saturday’s meeting in Durong,” Ms Frecklington said.
“It really is a bit sneaky.
“The Minister should be holding open meetings for all graziers and landholders who want to attend.
“Any operational changes to the tick line need to be fully discussed and understood by all stakeholders, not just a chosen few.”
Minister Donaldson said feedback for cattle tick line consultation can be submitted online through the online survey, or by completing a hard copy of the survey and returning to the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries by post, email, fax or hand delivered to one their regional offices.
The postal address for written submissions is the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, GPO Box 46, Brisbane 4001.
Hard copies of the survey are available by calling the department’s customer service centre on 13 25 23.
More public meetings are scheduled this week including at Moura on January 13, Springsure on January 14 and Alpha on January 15.
