In response to questions put to his office by Beef Central about Johne’s Disease policy last week, the Queensland Minister for Agriculture John McVeigh has provided the following statement today:

The Queensland Government, through Biosecurity Queensland, manages pests and diseases for the benefit of our farm industries, the wider community and of course our environment.

Whenever Biosecurity Queensland becomes aware of a disease threat, it is compelled to take actions under state legislation and work with other state and Federal agencies, especially when dealing with pests and diseases of national and trade significance, such as Johne’s disease.

The Queensland Government is committed to maintaining Queensland’s status as a Johne’s disease Protected Zone. This favourable status ensures access to markets and is supported by the overwhelming majority of producers in our multi-billion dollar beef industry.

Queensland is following national protocols for Johne’s disease management, and our industry’s wishes to maintain the state’s low prevalence of the disease. Our strategy is to reduce the risk of bringing new cases of Johne’s disease into Queensland, and prevent the spread of Johne’s disease already present here.

Since the major Johne’s disease outbreak at Bajool, near Rockhampton in 2012 (recognised as the largest yet in Australia), Biosecurity Queensland has worked closely with affected properties to minimise the impacts on business and get them out of quarantine as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

I stress that the overwhelming majority of the initial 170 properties caught up in the 2012 outbreak have worked closely and in a strong cooperative spirit with my Departmental officers and have done so with minimum fuss and public complaint. The silent majority understands that whenever Biosecurity Queensland suspects that Johne’s disease exists, it is obliged to take certain steps, including the serving of quarantine notices.

Readers would be aware of recent court action regarding the quarantining of properties where there is a suspicion of Johne’s infection.

The Supreme Court decision agreed that existing government regulations for Johne’s disease do cover the bison strain. In fact, all strains of Johne’s disease are regulated by the Act. To simplify and provide a more comprehensive approach to Johne’s disease control in Queensland, we have amended the Stock Regulation 1988, to refer broadly to Johne’s disease encompassing all strains.

I point out, we have seen emerging evidence in Australia and overseas that ‘S’ strain can cause disease in cattle. Based on scientific advice and consultation with industry, the Queensland Government has adopted the position that cattle and sheep producers may be at risk of ‘S’ strain Johne’s disease if they acquire cattle from areas and properties where ovine Johne’s disease is common.

Australia’s national Johne’s disease control program does not presently recognise a significant risk of ‘S’ strain to cattle. However, this issue will be addressed when the program is reviewed early next year. Pending the review, the Queensland Government is partnering with industry to provide producers and livestock agents with the information required to make risk-based assessments and management decisions on introducing stock from at-risk Johne’s disease areas as part of a shared responsibility approach to biosecurity.

While there is no legal obligation on the State Government and taxpayers to compensate affected producers, the Queensland Government does not expect individual producers to bear the full cost of protecting the industry.

In addition to the direct costs carried by my Department, for inspections and testing and developing supply chain and direct market alternatives, we have also established a special Johne’s disease assistance program.

This program provides a range of financial assistance measures to producers, and so far, more than $2.6M has been paid out to 98 applicants.

The State Government will continue to work with the 16 producers who remain under quarantine from the original 170 properties identified as being risk from the outbreak at Bajool in 2012.

For further information on Johne’s disease, visit www.biosecurity.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23.