The NSW Cattle Tick Strategic Plan (October 2026) establishes the future management strategy for cattle tick (Rhipicephalus australis) in New South Wales. The Plan adopts a risk-based geographic and phased approach and establishes three goals for the six-year programme: reducing the number of infested properties in the Northern Rivers region, decreasing the geographical area containing infested properties, and preventing cattle tick from spreading beyond that region. NSW will be divided into high-, medium- and low-risk areas, with differentiated arrangements for surveillance, movement controls and treatment. Measures include tracing livestock movements, property and aggregator surveillance, controls on interstate and intrastate movements, treatment schemes and destocking where treatment is impracticable. The approach combines government-led activities with greater owner responsibility, supported by communication, engagement and financial assistance. The Plan is underpinned by the Biosecurity Act 2015, under which cattle tick is notifiable, and provides for governance through the Cattle Tick Consultative Committee and Technical Advisory Group.
Australia · 2026-10-01