A Victorian couple and company has been fined $89,000 in Charleville for failing to meet entry requirements for moving cattle to Queensland.

Queensland agriculture minister John McVeigh said the result serves as a stern reminder of the obligations faced by landholders, stockowners, agents and livestock transporters in maintaining Queensland’s bovine Johne’s disease (BJD) ‘Protected Zone’ status.

McVeigh said the case highlighted the penalties that courts could impose for failing to meet entry requirements for moving cattle to Queensland.

“Anyone moving stock from other states needs to ensure they fully comply with our health checks and reporting requirements under the Act and that particularly applies to BJD,” Mr McVeigh said.

Mr McVeigh said the Newman Government was determined to maintain Queensland’s ‘Protected Zone’ status for BJD to protect the health of the state’s beef and dairy herds and ensure continued access to important domestic and export markets.

“With the help of industry, we’re making good headway in eradicating the major BJD outbreak first identified at a stud property near Rockhampton last November,” he said.

“The number of properties remaining under movement restrictions is now 35 – well down from the initial 170 trace-forward properties across Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.”

Mr McVeigh said he was pleased to announce the accelerated funding this week of $3 million in assistance for producers affected by the outbreak of BJD.

Source: QDAFF