Open borders allow us to holiday in Bali for the first time in three years, but that experience poses a catastrophic threat as the island grapples with Foot and Mouth Disease, Member for Wide Bay Llew O’Brien said.
“Mud or manure on a shoe brought back from overseas could cause Australia’s first FMD outbreak in 150 years, forcing the destruction of our cattle, sheep and pigs,“ Mr O’Brien said.
“Our trading partners would refuse our product wiping $32 billion from the export market because countries free of FMD will ban our imports.“
FMD would not only send meat price soaring at the checkout, it would destroy our beef, sheep and pork industries, but also decimate our dairy industry.
To put that into context it would destroy Nolan Meats in Gympie, a major regional employer, affect all regional sale yards, threaten the livelihoods of local butchers and grocers, and close Australian food processors producing yoghurt, milk and baby formula.
Australian wool and leather would be affected, as well as industries that rely on agriculture such as trucking and transport.
Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences (ABARES) modelling projects a widespread FMD outbreak in Australia would have a direct economic impact of around $80 billion.
FMD is a virus excreted in breath, saliva, mucus, milk and faeces, which can spread on wool, hair, by wind, or in mud or manure on footwear and clothing, according to the Australian Department of Agriculture.
It can be lethal in lambs, calves and piglets, but is incredibly painful for cows, sheep, and pigs. Australian stud breeders and our whole animal genetics industry would fail.
The Agriculture Department warns that foot lesions leave animals lame and unable to walk to feed or water. Tongue and mouth ulcers can mean animals refuse to eat. If young animals survive, they can be left deformed.
“Even vaccinating herds here in Australia will have trade implications – our Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp points out that our trading partners don’t differentiate between a vaccinated and a diseased animal,“ Mr O’Brien said.
“Vaccinated herds cannot stop our cattle, sheep and pigs from infecting feral deer, goats and pigs or vice versa.“
Mr O’Brien called on tourists to leave their shoes in Bali and ensure their noses and skin were clean when they left the airport.
“The only way to stop FMD is to clean, disinfect, and leave your shoes in Bali,“ he said.
“Flights from Denpasar to Brisbane are only 5.5 hours long – the virus could live on in your shoe for 24 hours until you return to Noosa, Gympie, Murgon, Maryborough or anywhere else in Australia and inadvertently cause a bio-security disaster.“
Mr O’Brien said Australians returning from their much-loved destination of Bali should exercise precautions to stop FMD from entering the country.
“There is also the hidden danger of flying home from Jakarta via another airport, such as Singapore, Manila or Kuala Lumpur. The virus can survive that trip, so everyone needs to be extra vigilant,” he said.
“The choice is abandoning a cheap pair of pluggers or the $80 billion wipe-out of the agricultural sector,“ Mr O’Brien said.
“The Albanese Government is very aware of the threat of FMD to Australian livestock and must take strong action to stop it from coming here.“
To sign the petition calling on the Government to introduce urgent bio-security measuresm visit chng.it/TGzHtmCp65
