Review welcomed by LHPA

The Livestock Health and Pest Authorities (LHPA) welcomes the recent announcement by the Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson, to conduct a review of the LHPA.

The LHPA has a 150 year history of district-based delivery of livestock health and pest management programs that help safeguard agricultural production in NSW.

Ian Donges, LHPA State Management Council Chairman, says the review is timely some two years into bedding down the new LHPA structure following the IMC and Richard Bull reviews.

"The LHPA has already come a long way since the reforms initiated in 2008 – this review is a good opportunity to build on those reforms and fine tune the organisation," he said.

"It’s an opportunity to look at where we’ve been, where we are going and how we can improve.

"We are committed to improving efficiency and growing the organisation to ensure our ratepayers are obtaining the best value for money."

The LHPA delivers the frontline biosecurity service in NSW with core functions in livestock health, pest animal and insect management, travelling stock reserves, stock ID and movement and emergency assistance.

"We continue to be one of the few rural-based organisations which are directed and managed locally and in which local producers do have an influence," said LHPA CEO Nigel Milan.

"The LHPA response in investigating recent cases of Hendra virus in horses is one such example where the local knowledge and technical expertise of our staff has been crucial in managing this emergency alongside the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

"The successful management of the 2010-11 plague locust control campaign again demonstrated the valuable partnership between the LHPA and NSW DPI."

Mr Milan said throughout the review period, the LHPA is committed to working with the Minister and the appointed consultant with a focus on positive results for our ratepayers.

"It’s business as usual for the LHPA during the review period – for our 350 staff in more than 60 offices the focus remains on working with landholders to deliver the frontline biosecurity service for livestock health and pests."

The consultant is due to report to the Minister by the end of November.

Media contact: Kylie Dunn 6391 3720 / 0428 465 378