Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty appointed Dr Katherine Clift to the role of Independent Biosecurity Commissioner last year, with her first priority being to identify opportunities to improve cattle tick management in NSW.
The review followed stakeholder feedback that the Cattle Tick Program had deteriorated under the previous government and required a new approach to protect livestock operations along the Queensland border, where cattle tick is an established pest.
Dr Clift worked with stakeholders in the beef and dairy industries, reviewed the existing program, and made 14 recommendations to improve biosecurity outcomes.
Recommended actions resulting from the review include:
• Commitment to eradication as the objective driving all program decisions and regulatory actions and deliver the first Cattle Tick Eradication Action Plan by September 30, 2026.
• Deliver more support to farmers to better understand the options available to them for prevention and management of infestations and collaborate on improving the program.
• Boost the program’s access to veterinary resources and skills by transferring the cattle tick team to operate under the NSW chief veterinary officer, ensuring its animal health focus, and boosting technical and compliance support from across Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and Local Land Services.
• Prioritising and expanding research and development focusing on chemical resistance and alternatives, diagnostics, emerging control tools, and monitoring technology.
The new NSW Cattle Tick Plan will be developed in collaboration with stakeholders and aligned with the state's updated biosecurity response frameworks. The plan will articulate program objectives, outcomes, strategies and performance measures.
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