AGY-1950 | Board of Tick Control

Full description

The Board of Tick Control was responsible for the control and eradication of cattle tick in proclaimed quarantine areas (1), and was established on 1 January 1920 following the recommendations of the Royal Commissioner, appointed in September 1918 to inquire into the administration of the Stock Diseases (Tick) Act, 1901 and the Stock Diseases (Tick Amendment) Act, 1915. (2)

The policy of the new Board was "to foster a good understanding with, and to educate the public to the necessity of carrying out all Regulations framed to combat the tick pest". (3) These regulations included a requirement for the notification of diseased or infected stock and their isolation (4), authorisation for Inspectors to order infected stock, products from such stock, vehicles or items used in connection with such stock, to be disinfected (5), order the quarantine of infected stock, and declare any land to be a quarantine area. (6)

On 14 January 1924 the Stock Diseases Act, 1923 was proclaimed. (7) Under the provisions of the Act the Board of Tick Control was constituted to consist of a Chairman who would be an officer of the Department of Agriculture, and six persons owning stock within proclaimed quarantine areas, three to be appointed, and three to be elected by stockowners in the quarantine areas. (8) A representative of the Commonwealth Government could also be appointed as an additional member of the Board. (9) In 1934 provision was made for the appointment of a further two additional members, both to be stock owners within quarantine areas, with one to be elected. (10)

The Board was given statutory powers to administer the provisions of the Stock Diseases Act, 1923 (as amended), and, subject to Ministerial approval, authorised to appoint, dismiss, and control Inspectors dealing with tick eradication within proclaimed quarantine areas. (11)

The Board of Tick Control was abolished on 7 December 2007 when the Stock Diseases Act, 1923, was amended by the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2007 (Act No.82, 2007). (12)

Endnotes
1. NSW Government Directory 1998, p.43.
2. Stock Branch, Department of Agriculture, Report for the year ended 30 June 1920, in Parliamentary Papers 1920, Second Session, Vol 1, p.126.
3. Office of the Tick Board of Control, Lismore, Chairman's Report for Half-Year ended 30 June 1920, ibid, p.144.
4. Stock Diseases (Tick) Act, 1901 (Act No 11, 1902), s.4.
5. ibid, s.5.
6. ibid, s.6.
7. NSW Government Gazette, 11 January 1924, p.193.
8. Stock Diseases Act, 1923 (Act No 34, 1923), s.5(2).
9. ibid, s.5(3).
10. Stock Diseases (Amendment) Act, 1934 (Act No 33, 1934), s.3.
11. Stock Diseases Act, 1923, op. cit, s.5(9).
12. Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No 2) 2007 (Act No.82, 2007) Sch.1.21 [1] removing Part 2 of the Diseases in Stock Act 1923 relating to the Board of Tick Control and Sch.1.21 [5] amending the Diseases in Stock Act 1923, Schedule 2 Part 7 cl.16.