Government, pastoralists combine to keep the Territory’s cattle safe

The Territory government and cattle industry are preparing for the next biosecurity threat. Read what they’re doing.

Government agricultural chiefs and cattlemen have teamed to ensure they are prepared if a major biosecurity threat impacts the billion-dollar Territory pastoral industry.

Chief NT Vet Dr Rob Williams joined with the NT Cattlemen’s Association in a series of seminars at Berrimah Research Farm focused on delivering emergency animal disease training.

Dr Williams has been at the frontline of the Territory’s biosecurity focus and played a key role in 2022 helping persuade the Indonesian and Malaysian governments the Territory was lumpy skin disease free after live exports were blocked from eight northern Australian stations.

And in March Indonesia shut the gate to cattle from on an NT property believed to have been the source of a botulism outbreak.

Cattlemen’s Association’s Romy Carey (left) beside NT Vet Dr Rob Williams with Ceny Hussie, Charles Vaughn and Michelle Baker.

“Protecting the Territory’s cattle industry from biosecurity threats is a priority for the Territory Government and the NTCA, with the agriculture and fisheries sectors worth $1.3bn to the NT economy,” Dr Williams said.

“This training will provide greater awareness for pastoralists, and those involved in the cattle industry about how a biosecurity incursion could affect their operations and the wider industry impacts.

“This is a unique opportunity to work with pastoralists on emergency animal disease training and it emphasises how important the agriculture sector is to the Territory economy.”

As well as Darwin, the industry biosecurity response readiness training sessions will also be held in Top Springs, Timber Creek, Katherine Research Station, Daly Waters, Barkly Homestead, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs.

The NT’s cattle industry is worth more than a billion dollars.

NT Cattlemen’s Association deputy chief executive Romy Carey said the training would provide senior industry representatives with how an emergency would unfold.

“This training is specifically designed to give senior industry representatives a thorough understanding of how an Emergency Animal Disease response would unfold in the Northern Territory,” she said.

“It provides practical insights into on-property actions and ensures understanding of the co-ordination frameworks of both the Territory and Federal governments.

“Developed in response to an identified gap in awareness, the program will be delivered to more than 70 participants in October, with face-to-face sessions to be delivered from the right across the NT.”

The training covers on-property actions, outlines the co-ordination of an animal disease response at both Territory and Commonwealth levels, and provides pastoralists the opportunity to hear directly from the Territory’s chief vet.

Northern Territory producers, land managers, researchers, industry professionals and community members can find out more about biosecurity alerts and other information by visiting nt.gov.au/environment/biosecurity