Have your say on changes to strengthen biosecurity legislation
The Northern Territory Government has begun consultation with key stakeholders on proposed changes to the Livestock Act 2008, the Livestock Regulations 2009 and Trespass Act 2023.
Biosecurity plays an important role in a range of significant Territory agricultural industries and it is crucial that our legislation remains up to date to best support and protect these industries.
The key changes proposed in the draft Livestock and other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 include:
- ensuring more flexible disease control powers to effectively respond to biosecurity emergency disease threats
- provide for police officers to be appointed with the same powers as appointed inspectors of livestock during an emergency
- establishing a legislative framework for the implementation of Biosecurity Management Plans
- enhancing biosecurity through mandatory entry requirements before retrieving stray livestock from a neighbouring property
- strengthening the regulation of honey bees and beehive registration to combat growing disease and pest risks
To further support the proposed changes, additional legislative amendments will be made to the Trespass Act 2023. This will capture more serious trespass offending that can cause deliberate and heightened biosecurity, economic and safety risks to the Territory’s agricultural sector.
Consultation is open to everyone, via the Have Your Say website and will close on Friday, 12 January 2024.
Emergency animal disease threats like Foot-and-Mouth disease (FMD) and Lumpy Skin disease (LSD) continue to spread across south-east Asia and threaten the Territory’s billion dollar cattle industry.
Strict biosecurity guidelines, effective traceability and high animal welfare standards underpin our legislation, our economic security, and are imperative for the Northern Territory to maintain its international status as a reliable source for the supply of safe, disease free and ethically produced quality products.
The proposed reforms to the livestock biosecurity legislative framework are scheduled to occur in 2024.
