New Biosecurity officers on the ground protecting Central QLD

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering stronger biosecurity measures to

protect north Queensland’s agriculture, environment and way of life.

• 40 new, additional officers are on the job across the state.

• Recruitment is delivering Crisafulli Government’s significant election

commitment to boost the biosecurity frontline by 100 this term of government.

• The Crisafulli Government is delivering a better lifestyle through a stronger

economy after a decade of decline under Labor, that saw biosecurity protections

eroded.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering stronger biosecurity across central

Queensland, with 8 new frontline officers recruited as part of an election commitment

to reinstate biosecurity capability eroded under Labor’s decade of decline.

It’s just one way the Crisafulli Government is delivering a plan for Queensland’s

future and growing the value of primary industries production to $30 billion by 2030.

The officers are stationed in 4 locations across central Queensland from

Rockhampton to Gayndah and west to Emerald.

The forty new frontline officers deployed across the state play a critical role in

identifying and tackling plant and animal pests and diseases to better protect

Queensland’s way of life, human health, economy and environment from biosecurity

risks, and is critical to the management of all biosecurity threats.

During Labor’s decade of decline, the biosecurity workforce between 2015 and 2022

was reduced by more than 20%, and the State’s northern most biosecurity line of

defence was closed.

The Crisafulli Government has committed to beefing up biosecurity with $50 million

to hire 100 officers this term of government.

Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett said the new recruits are based in

biosecurity hot spots with roles spanning animal biosecurity, plant biosecurity, and

invasive species.

“Strong biosecurity measures underpin profitable primary production - when we

improve our biosecurity, we also protect productivity which moves us closer to our

goal of primary production output of $30 billion by 2030,” Minister Perrett said.

“Primary producers deserve to have confidence Queensland has the biosecurity

capacity to protect and retain current national and international market access.

“We committed to boosting prevention and preparedness resources to combat

increasing biosecurity risks and the Crisafulli Government is delivering on its promise

with boots on the ground” he said.

Member for Gregory Sean Dillon said the addition of 8 new staff to the Central

Region, including Emerald, was a welcome boost to local ranks.

“These biosecurity officers play an important role in our community, undertaking

surveillance, compliance, enforcement, education and stakeholder engagement

activities to ensure the region is protected from animal and plant diseases and

invasive pests and weeds,” Mr Dillon said.

“My community is already feeling the benefits of these officers being embedded in

the region, protecting our agricultural production, environment and way of life.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Kerry-Lee Ferguson

gregory@parliament.qld.gov.au

(07) 4913 1000