BRISBANE, Queensland, Sept. 21 -- The Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet issued text of the following statement:

Minister for Primary Industries

The Honourable Tony Perrett

* The Crisafulli Government is delivering support for local governments to respond to serious biosecurity threats, in line with its commitment to stronger biosecurity measures across Queensland * H5 bird flu and foot-in-mouth disease response exercises to be undertaken in north, central and southern Queensland. * The Crisafulli Government is delivering better services through a stronger economy by strengthening Queensland's frontline against biosecurity threats.

The Crisafulli Government is delivering practical hands-on training to assist local governments respond to serious biosecurity threats, so together we can help protect Queensland's $22 billion primary industries sector from emergency animal diseases.

In partnership with the Local Government Association of Queensland, three regional exercises will be conducted in far north, central and south west regions, with the first being held in Atherton today, supported by the Crisafulli Government.

Biosecurity Queensland will be running the emergency response scenarios into H5 bird flu and foot-and-mouth disease to provide local governments the opportunity to test and improve their knowledge and response capability.

The exercises also examine how biosecurity and disaster management arrangements work together during a disease outbreak, clarify roles and responsibilities and improve coordination between agencies during a biosecurity incident.

It's just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is deliveringbetter services through a strongereconomyby ensuring local government is equipped to respond effectively to a local biosecurity threat or outbreak, should the worst happen.

During Labor's decade of decline, Queensland's biosecurity safeguards crumbled, theState's northern-most biosecurity defence line was closed, and between 2015 and 2022 Labor's biosecurity workforce shrank byoneinfive.

The Crisafulli Government's $75,000 investment into these workshops is in addition to the landmark election commitment to beef up biosecurity with 100 new biosecurity officers over the first term in office.

Minister for Primary Industries Tony Perrett said the regional exercises werea critical step in ensuring Queensland's biosecurity system remains strong and responsive.

"The arrival of H5 bird flu in Queensland makes these exercises all the more important and urgent, they will help ensure local governments can respond swiftly with confidence and clarity should the virus get a foot hold in their local area," Minister Perrett said.

"While a foot-and-mouth disease exercise is hypothetical if it were to be found in Australia, it would have serious consequences for Queensland's livestock, which is why preparedness at all levels of government is so important.

"These exercises ensure our State is ready to act quickly and effectively to protect our producers, communities and economy from biosecurity incidents.

"These exercises are just one of the ways the Crisafulli Government is strengthening the biosecurity frontline in regional Queensland."

Local Government Association of Queensland Chief Executive Officer Alison Smith said the exercises underlined the importance of biosecurity and disaster management collaboration.

"Queensland councils are well versed in preparing and responding to disasters of all types," Ms Smith said.

"These exercises will provide a further opportunity to strengthen biosecurity preparedness, share regional insights and contribute to improving Queensland's collective response capability."

ENDS

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