Test turnaround times ‘less than desirable’, as Minister orders biosecurity review Details Discovered at: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-03-31/queensland-agriculture-minister-deman… Sites: IBIS PH Publish date: Tue 2015-Mar-31 Author: Charlie McKillop Channel: Industry Text (summary): Updated March 31, 2015 16:35:41 Queensland’s new Agriculture Minister says he is starting to realise the full impact of biosecurity cuts. Following the detection of Panama disease in far north Queensland, Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne has ordered a biosecurity review. He said the former LNP government’s decision to slash one-quarter of Queensland’s biosecurity staff was “ruthless”. Audio: Bill Byrne says a recent outbreak in the banana industry has highlighted vulnerabilities in Queensland’s biosecurity (ABC Rural) Mr Byrne said it was only since becoming Agriculture Minister eight weeks ago that he had “understood the full dimension” of budget cuts to Biosecurity Queensland, including the loss of hundreds of jobs and the shutdown of laboratories at Townsville and Coopers Plains. He said he was aware of potential problems with the turnaround of samples taken from infected banana plants as part of the ongoing response to the Panama tropical race 4 (TR4) outbreak in Tully. Locations Discovery Original language: English Original title: Test turnaround times ‘less than desirable’, as Minister orders biosecurity review Original text (summary): Updated March 31, 2015 16:35:41 Queensland’s new Agriculture Minister says he is starting to realise the full impact of biosecurity cuts. Following the detection of Panama disease in far north Queensland, Agriculture Minister Bill Byrne has ordered a biosecurity review. He said the former LNP government’s decision to slash one-quarter of Queensland’s biosecurity staff was “ruthless”. Audio: Bill Byrne says a recent outbreak in the banana industry has highlighted vulnerabilities in Queensland’s biosecurity (ABC Rural) Mr Byrne said it was only since becoming Agriculture Minister eight weeks ago that he had “understood the full dimension” of budget cuts to Biosecurity Queensland, including the loss of hundreds of jobs and the shutdown of laboratories at Townsville and Coopers Plains. He said he was aware of potential problems with the turnaround of samples taken from infected banana plants as part of the ongoing response to the Panama tropical race 4 (TR4) outbreak in Tully. Issues Issue(s) that this article relates to, if applicable. Issue Status Start Panama disease incursion in North Queensland 2015 emerging Workflow Status: Promoted
