Recognising landholders' biosecurity plans and enforcing the compliance of third parties with access are key to successful protection of Queensland agriculture, according to AgForce.
In a submission to the sunset review of Queensland's Biosecurity Regulation 2016, AgForce has reiterated recommendations from an earlier submission and raised additional concerns.
"Many landholders maintain robust biosecurity plans embedded into their farm management systems that are not labelled as a 'biosecurity management plan'," AgForce General President Shane McCarthy said.
"The regulation should recognise any property plan or risk framework that meets the standards, no matter what it is called.
"Another major concern is the risk posed by mining companies, contractors, service providers and infrastructure providers who are not required by law to engage with property biosecurity plans.
"Workers move between properties and regions and risk spreading invasive weeds and disease via their activities if farm biosecurity plans are not followed.
"It's landholders who bear the economic, regulatory and reputational consequences of activities like drill testing and greenfielding, but lack any effective way of receiving assurances from those companies."
Mr McCarthy said entry often occurred at short notice, with inconsistent compliance with decontamination procedures and no avenue for landholder review.
AgForce CEO Niki Ford also pointed to the lack of enforceable obligations on third parties to provide spray records and activity notifications for the use of chemicals.
"Spraying under powerlines, around gas infrastructure and access corridors is often carried out without notice and records are not shared with producers, which can impact withholding periods and production assurance requirements," Ms Ford said.
"There is also an increased risk for producers in reef and water quality management areas.
"We're also calling for stronger enforcement of the General Biosecurity Obligation in state lands for pest control measures in areas with significant populations of feral pests.
"Unmanaged feral animal populations can spread quickly into nearly agricultural land without coordinated and consistent pest management.
"These changes would improve accountability, reduce the impact of feral pests and help build a more effective biosecurity framework in the state.
"And finally, while AgForce supports the enforcement of cattle tick provisions, this can be inconsistent," Ms Ford said.
"Again, it is the landholder who bears the expense of managing the problem if ticks are detected down the track."
Mr McCarthy said AgForce wholeheartedly supported the continuation of Biosecurity Regulation 2016 provided there was consistent enforcement and exemptions that undermine on-property biosecurity are addressed.
"Our recommendations would empower landholders to manage risk on their own terms and ensure the Regulation remains fit for purpose," he said.
"AgForce will continue to engage with Biosecurity Queensland on behalf of members as the review continues."
