FOOT sanitation baths are being rolled out in international airports to stop a Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak in Australia, which could cost the country $50B over 10 years if multiple states are affected according to ABARES research models.
Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell, has criticised the Federal Government’s handling over FMD biosecurity threat, saying that they have had weeks to prevent transmission into Australia.
“The threat of this disease will have catastrophic results on the food production industries in Australia, and by extension, the economy, Australian families and the cost of food.” Mr Birrell said.
Last week he and Shadow Minister for Trade and Tourism, the Hon. Kevin Hogan, met with leading dairy and meat processors in the Goulburn Valley, who highlighted the importance of additional biosecurity measures to protect primary production.
“In the state of Victoria alone, a total of 146,000 people are employed in agricultural production and food manufacturing.
“Victoria exports $11.4 billion of food and $3.1 billion of animal fibre annually. If the disease is detected in Australian livestock, an immediate livestock standstill will come into effect and export doors will be closed.”
As of Friday, foot sanitation baths had not been implemented in airports, and anecdotal evidence indicates that returning passengers from Indonesia were being waived through with insufficient inquiry to the risk they pose.
“The Labor Government must immediately implement stronger measures to reduce the likelihood of FMD entering Australia,” said Mr Birrell.
