NSW Government Launches New Cattle Tick Strategy for Agricultural Sector

The New South Wales Government announced a new Cattle Tick Strategy on Wednesday aimed at addressing the spread of cattle ticks affecting the state's beef and dairy industries, supported by a planned $21 million investment over three financial years starting from 2026/27.

The strategy is based on recommendations from a review conducted by the Independent Biosecurity Commissioner, which determined that relying on self-reporting by individual properties was insufficient for eradicating cattle ticks from the state. Under the new approach, biosecurity management will shift from managing isolated properties to implementing landscape-wide measures across broader regions.

According to the NSW Government, the state will be divided into high, medium, and low-risk zones, with resources prioritized for high and medium-risk areas. Over the next six years, the strategy aims to decrease the number of infested properties and shrink the affected zone in the Northern Rivers region. Measures will include area-wide surveys, enhanced surveillance, upgraded treatment protocols, and regional movement controls to prevent the parasite from spreading.

The development of the strategy involved consultations with beef and dairy stakeholders, technical experts, local communities on the far north coast, the Cattle Tick Consultative Committee, and a Technical Advisory Group.

Minister for Agriculture, Regional and Western NSW Tara Moriarty stated that the initial focus for the upcoming year will be on understanding cattle tick distribution, increasing awareness, and improving tracing and stakeholder engagement. The government stated that the total $21 million allocation includes an initial $7 million investment announced earlier in the year.

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