The federal government is ramping up biosecurity measures at the border after the detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in cows in Bali.
Warning: This story contains images some readers may find distressing.
"Following official confirmation from Indonesian authorities yesterday that FMD had spread to Bali, new measures were immediately imposed to protect Australia’s livestock industry from this threat," Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said.
"High-risk materials cannot be brought into the country, including contaminated equipment or clothing, [and] animals or animal products such as meat products and cheese."
FMD does not pose a risk to human health, but it causes painful blisters in cattle, sheep, pigs and goats and could result in animals being slaughtered en masse to eradicate the highly infectious virus.
FMD spreads between animals via their breath, through contact with the blisters,and through infected milk, semen, faeces and urine.
The virus can also live on vehicle tyres, clothing and footwear, which is why stricter biosecurity measures are being put in place for travellers returning from Indonesia.
A domestic outbreak could decimate the Australian agriculture industry and cost the nation an estimated $80 billion over several years.
The Minister said the new measures being introduced to prevent a local outbreak included:
- The location of biosecurity detector dogs in Darwin and Cairns airports
- Additional signage and the distribution of flyers at major airports, informing travellers of FMD risk and precautions
- Expanded social media campaigns informing travellers of their biosecurity responsibilities
- Additional training of airport biosecurity staff
- Enhancement of mail profiling and inspections
- Boarding by biosecurity officers on arriving flights from Indonesia (due to start in coming days)
Minister rules out travel ban
Mr Watt said the department had advised that Darwin and Cairns in particular required additional detector dogs.
He said there were a number of dogs already stationed at airports in Perth, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney, which also saw tourist traffic from Bali.
"Starting tomorrow, every single flight coming back into the country from Indonesia will be boarded by a biosecurity officer and a message will be played that is dedicated to the issues around FMD in Indonesia," he said.
The Minister said he would not force travellers to walk through foot baths, noting many would be wearing thongs.
He said the disinfectant required would be too caustic on exposed skin.
Mr Watt also ruled out a travel ban between Bali and Australia.
"We've got to keep our relationship with Indonesia strong, for trade, national security and other reasons," he said.
'Nervous' an 'understatement'
Mr Watt said he had sought urgent briefings yesterday from the Australian Director of Biosecurity, Andrew Metcalfe, Chief Veterinary Officer Mark Schipp and the head of the National Animal Disease Taskforce at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Chris Parker.
"There are also well-established plans in place should FMD be detected in Australia, including an FMD vaccine bank," Mr Watt said.
Simon Stahl, the chief executive of beef exporter Casino Food Co-op, said the industry was very concerned about the possibility of an FMD outbreak.
"To to say it's making us nervous would be an understatement," he said.
Australian Cattle Veterinarians president Tracy Sullivan told the West Australian Country Hour on Wednesday that an expert panel had recently revised the likelihood of FMD getting into Australia.
"It was revised from nine per cent, quite a few years ago, to … about 11.6 per cent of there being a chance of an FMD incursion in the next five years," she said.
