QUEENSLAND’S Department of Primary Industries (DPI) is currently undergoing a restructure to refocus its service delivery according to the Department’s Director General, however existing staff have expressed concerns the changes will water down its service capability and expertise.

DPI Director General Graeme Bolton said the operational review is in response to calls for change from industry and staff and consultation is still underway.

“The DPI’s operational review will not result in job losses, forced redundancies, or forced relocation of staff,” Mr Bolton said.

“It is focused on empowering the regions, strengthening service delivery, and improving efficiencies.

“To effectively support Queensland’s primary producers, strong regional connections are critical, an understanding of local industry priorities and practical, locally led action that responds to the diverse needs of producers and communities across Queensland.”

In a meeting with Beef Central Mr Bolton explained the review was exploring regional leadership to allow staff to focus on regional issues, for example: ticks in Southern and Central Qld, fire ants in South-East Qld.

Beef Central understands while no jobs will be lost, the Director General is considering changing some roles and exploring moving some roles out of the DPI.

Mr Bolton explained changes to cattle tick management are an example of how he would like to see the DPI’s service delivery strengthened.

A statement from the DPI listed these changes it had made to strengthen the cattle tick management and meet the service delivery needs of producers:

• Establishing three new dedicated Cattle Tick Biosecurity Officer roles in Dalby, Kingaroy and Biloela / Emerald (currently being advertised).
• Publishing parts of the restricted places register to provide greater transparency while protecting the privacy of individuals and help producers to effectively manage their risk at a local level.
• Increasing the subsidy currently available to restricted places in the Queensland Cattle Tick Free Zone for pour-on and injectable acaricides from 10 per cent to 25pc to support producers managing cattle tick infestations.
• Providing practical reports and information to assist producers manage the risk of cattle tick on their property including seasonal updates and chemical resistance intelligence.
• Establishing a free cattle tick dip drop-off and testing service at 16 locations across Queensland.
• Frontline capacity has already been strengthened with 58 of the 100 additional frontline biosecurity officer positions over five years filled in regional Queensland as of 2nd November 2026.

Beef Central will have a separate story on cattle tick management in Queensland as there are concerns the restricted places register requires a Property Identification Code (PIC) and does not provide information about properties that neighbour the outbreak.

One industry source also questioned whether the 100 new biosecurity officers were additional jobs or a redirection of existing staff.

Staff concerned restructure will impact services

Beef Central was contacted by a DPI staff member who expressed concern about the changes saying there is a lot of unease internally about what is happening to Biosecurity Queensland.

“Publicly the Government is talking about strengthening biosecurity and putting more people in the regions,” the DPI staff member said.

“Internally, the concern is that some of the experienced capability that supports BQ’s work may be moved out, watered down, or absorbed into broader DPI arrangements.

“Staff are worried that important biosecurity functions could be shifted away from the areas that understand the risks, the industries, the legislation and the response work.

“This feels like Campbell Newman 2.0 in disguise. It is being presented as reform and modernisation, but staff are worried it could strip capability out of the very parts of the department that need experienced people the most.”

The underlying question that staff and an industry group have expressed is what the changes will mean in practice, what impact it could have on Qld’s biosecurity preparedness and response capability?