A newly-formed Biosecurity Queensland Ministerial Advisory Committee (BQMAC) will help to guide Queensland's statewide biosecurity systems and protections.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said Queensland was the frontline for national biosecurity threats and we needed the best expertise to help counter pests and diseases.
"BQMAC's members have a broad range of knowledge and experience to cover all the exotic plant and animal pests we may need to deal with," he said.
Biosecurity Queensland Ministerial Advisory Council (BQMAC) members:
- Committee Chair – as a former Director-General, Scott Spencer has considerable experience in the biosecurity field with a demonstrated track record of policy development and reform across most aspects of natural resources and primary industries.
- Aaron Dodd, Research Fellow, Biosecurity and Environmental Economics Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis (CEBRA) University of Melbourne.
- Professor Maxine Whittaker, Dean of the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences at James Cook University.
- Sarah Buckler (Local Government Association of Queensland)
- Dr Rachel McFadyen (weeds and invasive pest management)
- Janine Clark (Growcom)
- Michelle McKinlay (Australian Banana Growers' Council)
- Will Wilson (AgForce)
- John Coward (Queensland Pork Producers/ Egg Farmers of Australia Ltd/ Queensland United Egg Producers Pty Ltd/J&J Coward Pty Ltd Specialist Consulting Disciplines)
- Peter Black (Essential Foresight).
BQMAC will provide direction on Queensland's priorities within the national biosecurity system, advise the Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries around key biosecurity issues and trends affecting Queensland, support discussion and consultation with stakeholders, and distribute information to industry.
