MICK
VEITCH MLC
SHADOW
MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE
SHADOW
MINISTER FOR REGIONAL NSW
JANELLE
SAFFIN MP
MEMBER
FOR LISMORE
NSW
LABOR CALL FOR ADVISORY GROUP ON NORTH COAST TICK FACILITY
NSW Labor are calling for a regional stakeholder advisory group to be urgently formed to help develop a path forward to tackle the threat of cattle tick infestation on NSW North Coast farms.
NSW
Shadow Minister for Agriculture Mick Veitch and Lismore MP Janelle
Saffin are making this joint call as the NSW Government lease on the
existing tick facility at Kirra in South East Queensland is currently
suspended.
Mr
Veitch and Ms Saffin insist until a long-term plan is agreed upon by
the government to mitigate this issue, the Kirra facility must remain
open and operational.
The
State’s successful cattle tick program was established in 1920 in
recognition of the grave threat of tick infestation for the NSW
cattle industry. To not have a current management plan in place
neglects the needs of many farmers on the NSW North Coast.
Mr
Veitch said, “The NSW Government’s consultation on this has been
woeful.
“NSW
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall needs to step in and sort out a
long-term solution to an issue which puts many local farmers’
livelihoods at risk.
Ms
Saffin, who has been in close consultation with Tweed Shire graziers’
regarding their concerns said, “The Government’s priority must be
ensuring the community that our multi-million-dollar cattle industry
is protected from threats such as this”
DATE: WEDNESDAY, 8 SEPTEMBER 2021
