…A number of incidents of alleged 2,4-D herbicide damage to grapes,
horticultural tree crops and cotton have occurred in the Emerald district over
the past 2 years. A number of these incidents may have been caused by the
volatility of the chemical formulations used….

The Emerald Chemical Liaison Group met in Emerald on 2 November 1998 to consider restrictions on the use of 2,4-D (amine and ester
formulations). The meeting reached consensus that the declaration of Emerald Shire as a hazardous area2 under the Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control Act 1966 was the preferred option….

The meeting resolved to request the DPI to consider declaration of a hazardous area in the Emerald district, broadly consisting of a 100 km radius from the centre of Emerald. A local committee was formed to develop a submission detailing the desired scope of the proposed regulation including geographic coverage, extent of chemical restrictions and any
exemptions considered necessary. ..

5.2.1 The Emerald Chemical Liaison Group has been concerned with alleged damage from volatile 2,4-D over the 1997/98 and 1998/99 seasons. There have been a total of 21 incidents of alleged 2,4-D damage to cotton, table grapes, chick peas, mangoes and tomatoes over the 1997-99 period. As a consequence, the Emerald Chemical Liaison Group met at Emerald on 2 November 1998 to consider restrictions on the distribution of 2,4-D (ester and amine) formulations. This meeting was attended by DPI Animal and
Plant Health Service staff. The meeting resolved to request the declaration of a hazardous area near Emerald with restrictions on the aerial and ground distribution of volatile 2,4-D ester formulations.

Agricultural Chemicals Distribution Control Amendment (No. 1) No. 283, 2000 Queensland Hansard