Biosecurity training opens to agriculture sector to counter disease threats

Agriculture sector leaders are being encouraged to register for response readiness training as part of the Palaszczuk Government’s $22 million investment in developing the state’s preparedness for multiple, concurrent biosecurity incidents.

Biosecurity Queensland is running 12 training sessions throughout the state for staff, elected officials, and emerging leaders of agricultural peak bodies in the plant and animal sectors.

The training is designed to help peak bodies prepare for the event of an emergency pest or disease outbreak.

Created in partnership with Plant Health Australia and Animal Health Australia, the training covers an ‘all hazards’ approach to significant plant and animal biosecurity threats.

Developed with the assistance of a leading biosecurity preparedness trainer, the content is focused on:

• How biosecurity incident responses are activated at a state and national level, including management and funding arrangements.
• The role of peak bodies in a biosecurity incident response and how they collaborate with government during an incident.
• The potential impacts of a biosecurity incident for industry stakeholders.
• How industry representative bodies can prepare for their role in a biosecurity incident response.

The 12 sessions will be held in metropolitan and regional centres between December 2023 and March 2024; half will be online and the other half face to face.

Biosecurity Queensland is working with the Queensland Farmers’ Federation, AgForce and other industry groups to encourage participation, and registration is now open to all agricultural peak bodies and supply chain organisations.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Agricultural Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities:

“Industry plays such an important role in helping keep Queensland agriculture safe from emergency disease and pest outbreaks,” Minister Furner said.

“This training provides an excellent opportunity for staff in the plant and animal sectors of agriculture to ensure they are prepared for an emergency biosecurity outbreak and know how to best support their sector.”

ENDS

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