Scott Spencer to lead Biosecurity Qld advisory committee

A former Agriculture Department director-general, Scott Spencer is the committee chairman and has been described as having considerable experience in the biosecurity field with a demonstrated track record of policy development and reform across most aspects of natural resources and primary industries.

Peak bodies will be represented by Growcom's Janine Clark, AgForce's Will Wilson, Michelle McKinlay from the Australian Banana Growers' Council, and John Coward, representing Queensland Pork Producers/ Egg Farmers of Australia Ltd/ Queensland United Egg Producers Pty Ltd/ and J&J Coward Pty Ltd Specialist Consulting Disciplines.

Other council members are Sarah Buckler, Local Government Association of Queensland; Aaron Dodd, research fellow, Biosecurity and Environmental Economics Centre of Excellence for Biosecurity Risk Analysis, University of Melbourne; Professor Maxine Whittaker, Dean of the College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences at James Cook University; Dr Rachel McFadyen, who has experience with weeds and invasive pest management as CEO of the Australian Weed Management CRC, and consultant Peter Black, a veterinary epidemiologist.

Agriculture Minister Mark Furner said Queensland was the frontline for national biosecurity threats and the state needed the best expertise to help counter pests and diseases.

"BQMAC's members have a broad range of knowledge and experience to cover all the exotic plant and animal pests we may need to deal with," he said.

The committee will provide direction on Queensland's priorities within the national biosecurity system, advise the minister on key biosecurity issues and trends affecting Queensland, support discussion and consultation with stakeholders, and distribute information to industry.

The time taken to appoint members to the committee and the time since it last met has been criticised by both the LNP and AgForce, who said it indicated that biosecurity preparedness was not a priority with the government.

Opposition agriculture spokesman Tony Perrett said for the key industry advisory group on biosecurity matters to have not met for almost two years showed the level of contempt Labor has for biosecurity and protecting local jobs.

"Farmers and their representatives have been shut out for nearly two years while the Palaszczuk Labor government ignores biosecurity issues," he said. "Nominations closed in March this year, but it took a further nine months just to announce who was on the committee."

Mr Perrett said to make matters worse there had been no BQMAC meetings since January 2018.

"While Queensland's farms have been getting invaded by animal extremists risking on-farm biosecurity this government has refused to allow its peak advisory groups on these matters meet because they didn't want feedback on its dismal record.

"Unlike Labor, the LNP will never take our biosecurity for granted because we understand how important it is to our farmers and protecting local jobs in rural and regional communities."

Groups such as QDOG, the Queensland Invasive Plant and Animals Committee and the State Land Pest Management Committee are overseen by BQMAC, as well as the Biosecurity Strategy 2019-2024.

QIPAC member, AgForce's Ivan Naggs recently criticised the time taken to bring out the Invasive Pest Plants and Animals Strategy 2019-2024 and said the cogs needed to turn quicker if the state was to retain biosecurity preparedness across Queensland.

"The slogan AgForce applies to biosecurity issues - Be Aware, Be Alert, Be Prepared - must be incorporated into the state government's thinking and planning," he said.