Labor’s Acting Agriculture Minister Dr Anthony Lynham’s attempt to blame rain for the government’s failed management of the fire ant program was a new low even for them.
Shadow Agriculture Dale Last said the unacceptable delays in identifying and then treating fire ants had been part and parcel of Labor’s management for far longer than just the past two weeks of wet weather.
“For the Acting Minister to attempt to blame the rain for the delays in treatment is ludicrous and simply laughable,” Mr Last said.
“As a medical professional he should know the dangers a fire ant bite poses to young children and the elderly.
“But what can Queenslanders expect from a part-time minister that is not across his portfolio and is more interested in advancing his medical career on taxpayers’ time and money.
“His personal attack on me for raising the situation is also pathetic, not to mention his claim that he contacted me and offered to provide a briefing on this issue which is a outright lie.
“My office has been contacted by numerous landholders and farmers who are genuinely concerned about the total mismanagement of the fire ant program – particularly the very long and unacceptable delays in identifying and treating nests.”
Mr Last said he had also been contacted by park rangers who are equally concerned about the failures and the risks to the general public.
“The Acting Minister wants to blame the rain, me and everyone else for this serious issue but what he’s again failed to do is address any of the real issues I have legitimately raised including why nests have not been treated at the same time as identification,” he said.
“But that is what Queenslanders have come to expect from this do-nothing Labor Government that has treated the agriculture sector with disdain and farmers like criminals for the past three years.”
Mr Last said there was plenty of good will in the South-East Queensland community to work with the government on the eradication program which had recently received a massive federal funding commitment of more than $400 million.
“We need to ensure the very best procedures are adopted and that includes working closely with local landholders, farmers and park rangers utilising their skills in identifying and treating nests as soon as practical and not wasting resources in overly-bureaucratic and mindless practices,” he said.
Mr Last said the government recently advertised for a senior biosecurity manager to oversee and run the fire ant program.
“Here’s hoping the selection criteria includes common sense, honesty and a real desire to work with landholders, farmers, park rangers and members of community and ending the ridiculous delays in identifying and treating nests.”
