Partnering up to make Queensland biosecurity ready

The Palaszczuk Government is investing $750,000 to strengthen the state’s biosecurity capability through two new regional partnership projects.

Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries Mark Furner said the Better Partnerships Project would build on existing alliances to improve Queensland’s biosecurity outcomes.

“Local government, natural resource management groups and a diverse range of stakeholders already make a significant contribution to managing biosecurity at a local level,” Mr Furner said.

“The Better Partnerships Project will create even stronger, more robust collaboration.

“Two regional biosecurity plans and delivery frameworks will be developed collaboratively as pilot projects and used as best practice models for Queensland.

“These projects will guide other organisations who want to develop strong partnerships and achieve biosecurity planning which leverages resources and information at a regional level,” he said.

Mr Furner said North Queensland Dry Tropics and Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils would each receive funding of $375,000 over two years.

“North Queensland Dry Tropics will update the Regional Pest Management Strategy, while Wide Bay Burnett Regional Organisation of Councils will develop a coordinated approach to managing invasive plants and animals,” he said.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to ensuring Queensland has the best biosecurity capability in place to deal with future risks.”

The Better Partnerships Project is part of a package to implement the recommendations of a 2015 Biosecurity Capability Review. This package was announced in the 2016-17 Budget which provided additional funding of $10.8 million over four years.

Biosecurity Queensland, the Local Government Association of Queensland and Natural Resource Management Regions Queensland will oversee the initiative.

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Media: Brock Taylor – 0427 018 178