NSW Farmers’ cattle committee chair Tony Hegarty says the appointment of a new biosecurity commissioner is vital to ensure work on important issues such as cattle tick continue.
On Friday Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty announced the appointment of Dr Katherine Clift as the state’s new Independent Biosecurity Commissioner.
As part of the announcement, Ms Moriarty said one of the first priorities would be to provide advice on the state’s Cattle Tick Program, which had been in place for more than 100 years to protect the state’s livestock along the Queensland border from cattle tick, where it is an established pest.
Mr Hegarty said the commissioner’s review of the Cattle Tick Program was essential and followed strong advocacy by NSW Farmers to ensure the state remained cattle tick free.
“Cattle ticks are a nasty pest, and we’ve heard real concern about them from our members up north,” Mr Hegarty said.
“We know the annual cost of cattle ticks is in the hundreds of millions, and that’s why eradication of cattle ticks from NSW must remain the objective of this program.
“The commissioner will need to genuinely consult with cattle producers along the Queensland border, particularly east of the Great Dividing Range, and NSW Farmers looks forward to working with the commissioner during the review so she gets a clear picture of what’s needed on the ground.”
The NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development reported the national cost of cattle ticks was $160 million each year, and $30 million annually in New South Wales alone.
“This program must be appropriately resourced and funded to ensure that cattle ticks do not cross the border into NSW,” Mr Hegarty said.
“The fact this program is more than 100 years old is proof that proper biosecurity controls can work if they’re appropriately resourced and taken seriously by all involved.
“The program must protect industry from the significant trade, market, economic, biosecurity, and animal health and welfare threats that cattle ticks create.”
Minister Moriarty said congratulated Dr Clift on her appointment.
“I look forward to the application of her career’s impressive experience in biosecurity and public sector leadership to our priority projects,” Ms Moriarty said.
“There is important work to progress so that our farmers and regional communities can continue their work with the confidence that our Government is taking biosecurity seriously.
“The NSW Government extends its gratitude to Dr Healy for her work in the inaugural statutory role of Biosecurity Commissioner, and I thank her for the important contribution she has made to the role and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
“I look forward to Dr Clift’s advice on the state’s Cattle Tick Program, so that the NSW Government can continue to build a better program for our north-eastern cattle industry. The current program receives more than $4 million per year in funding and I want to ensure we keep on delivering what is best for industry, the community and government,” she said.
