Legislation introduced to Queensland Parliament yesterday will support Queensland's vital beekeeping industry and support critical pollination services for Queensland's agriculture sector.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said beekeeping services were essential to Queensland's multi-billion-dollar fruit and vegetable growing industry through pollination services each season's crop relies on.
"The Nature Conservation and Other Legislation Amendment Bill will support the continuation of beekeeping in certain national parks while the Government works with industry and other key stakeholders to identify alternative sites for the future relocation of beekeeping off national parks," Mr Furner said.
"These measures will ensure the future of our beekeepers and through them support important parts of the agricultural industry.
"The reality is that without pollination services our agricultural industry would be in real trouble, so I'm proud that the Palaszczuk Government is taking this important step."
Around 75% of the beekeeping industry clusters around Wide Bay Burnett, Gympie, and the Lockyer Valley, Toowoomba, and Scenic Rim areas.
The Queensland Beekeepers Association welcomed the 20-year reprieve it has long advocated for.
State Secretary Jo Martin says it gives the industry confidence to invest in the future.
"Extending the permits period for National Parks ensures beekeepers can access the nutritional resources needed to nourish their honey bee colonies."
"On current trend, Queensland's beekeeping industry will need to increase in size by over one-third in the next decade, such is the demand from berry fruit, nut growers and horticulturalists for pollinating bees."
Published figures have estimated the honey bee industry contributes approximately $2.4b to the Queensland economy each year.
The Bill to amend the legislation has been referred to the State Development and Regional Industries Committee for consideration.
