MORE ACTION NEEDED ON CATTLE TICK CRISIS IN THE NORTHERN RIVERS
- May 6
- 2 min read
State Nationals MP for Clarence Richie Williamson has used the floor of the NSW Parliament to call for increased funding to stop the alarming spread of cattle tick across the Northern Rivers, including in the Clarence electorate.
Mr Williamson said cattle tick infestations have been increasing at an alarming rate across the region in recent years, placing significant pressure on local producers and threatening a critical primary industry.
“Industry concerns were highlighted at a recent meeting I attended in Casino. The number of outbreaks were sobering, with six cases recorded from 2019 to 2022, to 21 since the Minns Government was elected,” Mr Williamson said.
“The beef and dairy industries across the Northern Rivers are worth many hundreds of millions of dollars and remain at serious risk if the NSW Government doesn’t get on top of cattle tick.”
Mr Williamson said the consequences are already being felt on the ground.
“Hundreds of head of cattle have died over the past two years, including around 30 in the Kyogle district just weeks ago. That is devastating for local farming families and clearly shows the current ‘self-manage’ arrangements are not working,” he said.
Mr Williamson is calling on the Minns Labor Government to strengthen its response, including greater support for farmers dealing with infestations.
“I’m calling on the NSW Department of Primary Industries to work more closely with landholders, provide stronger on-ground support when infestations are detected, improve tracing systems, and increase compliance checks,” he said.
He also called for the establishment of a dedicated, rapid-response “hit team” to help contain outbreaks and protect unaffected areas.
“This is a growing biosecurity threat, and it requires boots on the ground to get ahead of it.”
Mr Williamson said the financial burden on farmers dealing with cattle tick is substantial and often immediate.
“If an infestation is detected, producers are required to undertake 12 rounds of treatment for all stock, 21 days apart. That is a huge impost, both financially and operationally, and in many cases can bring farm income to a halt overnight,” he said.
“We must ensure farmers are not left to fight this battle alone.”
Mr Williamson said while a recent funding announcement is a positive step, more targeted action is needed to safeguard the future of the Northern Rivers’ livestock industry.
A link to the video for the Notice of Motion by Mr Williamson can be found here:
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