Biosecurity Fundamentals for the Queensland Nursery Industry
By Frank Fox, Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) & Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) Biosecurity Officer
In last month’s newsletter we provided members with an overview of the new Queensland Biosecurity Act 2014.
This month’s article will focus on the concept of shared responsibility and how the new Act achieves this by formally applying a General Biosecurity Obligation (GBO). This obligation applies to everyone whether they are involved in government, industry or in the broader community. What it means in reality is that every person has an obligation to take all reasonable and practical measures to prevent or minimise biosecurity risks. However, the Act also makes it clear that this obligation only applies to persons who know or should reasonably know that a biosecurity risk exists. The test is “reasonableness”.
Firstly, at the government level the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is responsible for administering the new legislation. That, in effect, is its principal biosecurity obligation. Departmental staff carry out this obligation by continuing to regulate and monitor the activities of persons who deal with biosecurity matter. Staff may also deal directly with biosecurity matter when conducting surveys and sampling. Staff engaged in these activities are required to be mindful of the biosecurity risks and to behave accordingly.
Local governments are also included. The Act requires them to maintain Biosecurity Plans to control invasive plants and animals. With the plans in place, council employees are then bound by their GBO to administer them.
Moving to industry, it is important that biosecurity is included in the support that peak industry bodies such as NGIQ provide for their membership. This is because biosecurity is linked directly to market access. It also influences broader socio-economic and environmental outcomes.
At the nursery level, it is essential that growers recognize their General Biosecurity Obligation because this is critical to the long-term viability of the whole industry. The new legislation requires businesses to maintain a responsible focus on pests and diseases and to observe appropriate nursery hygiene. While this approach is not novel, the new legislation does provide clarity on how biosecurity will be managed into the future.
In next month’s newsletter, we will explain how nurseries are required to exercise their General Biosecurity Obligation in dealing with legislated pests and diseases and in managing the biosecurity status of their properties.
Frank Fox is a DAF officer who has been seconded to Queensland Farmers’ Federation (QFF) to introduce the new biosecurity legislation, to seek feedback from members; and to identify areas for enhanced collaborative effort for the future.