McVeigh Must Clarify the Number Of Fire Ant Staff Sacked

Media Release.

Deputy Opposition Leader Tim Mulherin says the Agriculture Minister John McVeigh has some explaining to do after it has been revealed that his statement in State Parliament about the number of sacked fire ants workers does not match up with statements from a senior departmental officer.

Mr Mulherin said respected former Biosecurity Queensland managing director Kareena Arthy warned 69 BQ staff would be sacked and a further 104 would have to be redeployed from the fire ants program.

“During Budget Estimates hearing last year Mr McVeigh said only 45 staff in the fire ants program were sacked,” Mr Mulherin said.

“However, Ms Arthy warned the Minister prior to the estimates hearing that 69 staff would be sacked and 104 redeployed.

“Mr McVeigh has some explaining to do, as he has either deliberately misled the Parliament when he provided his answer that 45 fire ants staff being sacked, or he was not across his portfolio responsibilities.

“Either way, this is a very serious error from the Agriculture Minister, the fire ant eradication program is one of the most important in the Minister’s portfolio responsibilities and he should be well aware of how many staff he was sacking from the program,” he said.

Mr Mulherin said Ms Arthy’s statements also reveal the LNP Government has slashed so much funding from the fire ant eradication program it is no longer capable of responding to infestations.

“Last year Mr McVeigh also revealed he failed to commit the $6 million needed to meet his obligations as part of the National Fire Ant Eradication Program and only committed $2.5 million,” he said.

“By slashing this funding the LNP are putting the entire fire ant program at risk and are letting fire ants march all over Queensland and across the border into other states.

“The slashing of jobs and services in this biosecurity program by the LNP Government also breaks their election commitment to boost biosecurity in Queensland.

“It has been proven that populations of fire ants can be eliminated with ongoing control programs, however, now this will not be possible as the LNP have slashed staff and funding for the eradication program.”

Minister for Agriculture John McVeigh’s statement during Budget Estimates Hearings 12^th October 2012

“We will see 126.1 FTEs employed under the fire ant program in 2012-13. That is as a result of some 45 staff having been retrenched.”