Queensland, Australia
January 18, 2012
Peak horticulture body for Queensland, Growcom, is today launching its biosecurity platform as the first of its priorities for the upcoming state election. At its core the policy is calling for a significant boost to plant biosecurity funding in line with animal biosecurity funding.
Growcom CEO Alex Livingstone says that biosecurity is just the first of many critical areas for horticulture that need to be addressed by the incoming government.
In recent years state government funding for plant biosecurity operations has been significantly less than that for animal biosecurity. As part of the ongoing implementation of Queensland Biosecurity Strategy 2009-2014 Growcom would like to see a commitment from candidates to increasing plant biosecurity funding to equal that of animal biosecurity.
“Biosecurity is an important matter for all Queenslanders, not just the horticulture industry, as a pest and disease incursion such as citrus canker or fire ants can have significant consequences throughout the whole economy,” said Mr Livingstone.
“We are seeking a commitment from all political parties to implement effective and appropriately funded plant biosecurity strategies.
“With one-third of the nation’s horticulture crops grown in Queensland and so much of our coast exposed to incursions from the north, Queensland needs to have its own well-resourced plant biosecurity operations.
“Asian honey bee is just one example of a pest that has entered Australia through northern Queensland and now threatens a wide variety of agricultural industries in Australia. Containment of this incursion and continued investigation into its eradication is important for many different agricultural commodities in the state.
“In addition, the new Biosecurity Bill 2011 places considerable extra obligations on industry and a transition strategy needs to be implemented to ensure biosecurity is not compromised.
“The formation of the Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) agency and development of its five-year strategy have been positive advances for Queensland. To maintain this momentum major investment in this area is now required, particularly with respect to plant biosecurity, and we hope that parties contesting the upcoming Queensland election will commit to maintaining and improving the highly important activity of BQ.
“Rather than holding this launch in our Brisbane offices, Growcom has decided to undertake a virtual media conference online so that media, growers and members of the public throughout Queensland and beyond can participate,” Mr Livingstone said.
Growcom’s virtual media conference will begin at 11 am Brisbane time, with CEO Alex Livingstone available online to answer your questions. The web site is: http://www.growcom.com.au/livechat
To view Growcom’s Biosecurity Policy, visit http://www.growcom.com.au/_uploads/174726Biosecurity_Policy.pdf
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