The Queensland Government says 40 new frontline officers have now been recruited to reinstate biosecurity capability in the State.

Queensland agriculture minister Tony Perrett.

The Crisafulli Government has committed to beefing up biosecurity with $50 million to help hire 100 officers in the first term in office.

In an announcement today the Government said 40 officers have now been recruited in 21 locations across the State from Bamaga and Cairns in the north, to Nambour in the south and as far west as Charleville.

The new frontline officers will 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 will be critical to the management of all biosecurity threats.

A Crisafulli Government media release said that under Labor State Governments between 2015 and 2022 the State’s biosecurity workforce was reduced by more than 20 percent, and the State’s northern most biosecurity line of defence was closed.

Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the new recruits were 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.”

Member for Nicklin Marty Hunt, said the addition of five new staff to the Sunshine Coast region 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 Sunshine Coast is protected from animal and plant diseases and invasive pests and weeds,” Marty Hunt MP said.

“We’re already seeing the benefits of having these officers embedded in our region, helping to protect our agricultural production, environment and our way of life,” he said.

Source: Qld Government