CATTLE producers are calling for the Fedeeral Government to find a new and fair way to increase biosecurity funding after it shelved plans to introduce a new onshore biosecurity levy on importers last week.

Cattle Council of Australia (CCA) is urging the Federal Government to proceed with an increase to biosecurity funding after announcing last week its previous levy strategy will not go ahead.

“Our biosecurity system shouldn’t fall over just because the levy did,” Cattle Council CEO Travis Tobin said.

“The levy was meant to provide another $325 million over three years to protect our borders on top of what’s already spent, and that extra money should still be invested in biosecurity.

“We’re not worried about where the money comes from, so long as it’s fair.”

Mr Tobin said “everyone benefitted” from good biosecurity and Australia’s system should be second-to-none.

“Annually, more than 1.8 million sea cargo consignments, 41 million air cargo consignments, 152 million international mail items and 21 million passengers arrive in Australia, and numbers are growing every year.

“Biosecurity protects the health and wellbeing of everyone in the country.

“It ensures Australians have access to healthy, nutritious and affordable foods such as grass-fed beef.

“This system protects Australia’s $19 billion beef industry that employs people in both regional and metropolitan areas.

“Good biosecurity also protects our way of life by keeping pests such as fire ants out of the country.

“Australians should be able to go to the footy or for a picnic without being stung by invasive insects.

“Our message to government is to find the money, secure our beef industry and keep our way of life safe.”

Source: Cattle Council of Australia