Biosecurity is a word that we as producers hear bandied around a lot, especially in the current climate. Interestingly there are a number of different ways producers treat the legislation that protects them, but as we know, current and previous Queensland Governments have invested vast amounts of money into how we will be protected into the future. I’d like to voice an opinion on how I see biosecurity now and into the future.
I feel we as producers face many biosecurity risks, including weeds, pests and disease. We should really be the most concerned about biosecurity risks that we don’t already have, otherwise it would not be considered a risk it would be seen as the problem! Therefore treating these ‘risks’ by region is pointless.
A good example would be me saying, “My neighbour has a serious weed issue, but I don’t, therefore it is solely my neighbours problem.”
So what should I do to control the weeds? Ban him from entering my property? Take him off the invite list for all future BBQ’s? and put another wire in the boundary fence?
Or, do I work with him to control the problem, locate where it is and discuss what mechanisms we can put in place to control the issue for now, and well into the future?
I feel, if we as producers were to step outside and have a look at how we treat these issues, it would be abundantly clear that our current plan is seriously flawed.
Every state is led to believe that they have put in place the correct strategies, and it’s the other state that has the problem.
States are stepping away from cost rather than owning the responsibility, and not wanting to be the ones to drop the ball in protecting us the producers. In other words, no neighbours invited to any BBQ’s and loads of wires to be put in boundary fences.
There are many recent examples of this issue in all types of biosecurity risks; from diseases such as BJD, pests, changes to the tick regulations and weeds such as Giant Rats Tail Grass that is prevalent in Queenslands coastal regions.
Giant Rats tail grass is a risk to all Queenslanders however the responsibility of control and treatment of the grass is only shouldered by those that have it, with not much or very little regard on how we are going to manage it as a community let alone a State.
Do I think there is a magic solution? No! But one thing we do need to do, is to start to find possible solutions to the flaws in our current system and not just simply appropriate blame. I believe the way forward has to be facilitating solid research and development in finding reasonable solutions for control of these issues.
Enough is enough, producers feel that bureaucrats should take a moment to understand the difference between the problem and the risk and how this will effect us.
And maybe we should all keep an eye out for Pistol and Boo next time we are holidaying at the coast!