- Crisafulli Government invests in stronger biosecurity measures, partnering with industry for preparedness exercises.
- $75,000 boost to conduct exercises that simulate real-world biosecurity threats and outbreaks.
- The investment is in addition to the Crisafulli Government's landmark election commitment of 100 additional front line biosecurity officers.
- The Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future and a better lifestyle through a stronger economy after a decade of decline under Labor.
The Crisafulli Government is delivering stronger biosecurity measures by building important capability in key industries, through real-world outbreak exercises to enhance their preparedness and response.
Through the Biosecurity Boost Grants Program, $75,000 will be invested into Cotton Australia, Australian Lot Feeders Association and NRM Regions Queensland to conduct exercises that simulate real-world biosecurity threats and outbreaks.
It's just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland's future by ensuring industry is not only aware of risks and how to manage them, but importantly, are able to respond to key biosecurity threats for their sector, should the worst happen.
The Australian Lot Feeders Association's exercise will prepare for emergency animal diseases, Cotton Australia will focus on combatting a boll weevil outbreak, and NRM Regions Queensland will hone response capabilities related to H5 bird flu.
Biosecurity failures are one of the biggest threats to our $22 billion primary industries sector, and investment in preparedness ensures industry and government can respond decisively and effectively to mitigate possible damage.
During Labor's decade of decline, Queensland biosecurity safeguards crumbled, the State's northern-most biosecurity defence line was closed, and between 2015 and 2022, Labor's biosecurity workforce shrank by more than 20 per cent.
The Crisafulli Government's investment is in addition to the landmark election commitment to beef up biosecurity with 100 new biosecurity officers over the first term in office.
Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said biosecurity threats were an ever-present reality, so it's imperative to be vigilant and prepared to protect our industries, but also more broadly the economy, our environment and way of life.
"Biosecurity underpins Queensland's ability to grow and produce clean, healthy and nutritious local food, and ultimately, strong biosecurity is the linchpin of a productive primary industries sector and regional and rural communities," Minister Perrett said.
"The simulations conducted by our industry partners are critical investments in prevention and preparedness, to ensure swift, effective responses that significantly limit impact on individuals and entire industries."
Australian Lot Feeders Association CEO Christian Mulders welcomed the investment and commended the Crisafulli Government for prioritising preparedness.
"This is a highly effective way, for a significant part of the cattle industry, to 'wargame' a potential emergency animal disease outbreak and strengthen our industry's ability to respond," Mr Mulders said.
Cotton Australia CEO Adam Kay said the simulation would be vital for understanding how an outbreak of boll weevil would unfold.
"Boll weevil is one of the top threats to the cotton industry, and it has the capability to cause significant damage to crops, so it's important to understand how to respond should an outbreak occur," Mr Kay said.
NRM Regions Queensland CEO Chris Norman said the funding would help improve biosecurity awareness and response capability across the NRM sector.
"These exercises are a great opportunity for the NRM team across the state to simulate real-world scenarios and ensure we're prepared to assist on any biosecurity threats where we can," Mr Norman said.
