Home

Australia to give Indonesia extra $10m to fight foot and mouth disease

Headshot of Kimberley Caines
Kimberley CainesThe West Australian
CommentsComments
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.
Camera IconFederal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt. Credit: TheWest

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has announced Australia will send an additional $10 million to Indonesia to help in its fight against the spread of foot and mouth disease.

Senator Watt told the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday the biosecurity funding would go towards vaccines and technical support.

He said more than 430,000 vaccines had already been sent to Indonesia for lumpy skin disease and now one million jabs would be provided for FMD.

“The best way to stop FMD reaching Australia is to stop its spread through Indonesia,” he said.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“It reflects Australia’s commitment to leverage our healthy partnership in support of Indonesian efforts to address this challenge. It’s in our national interest to offer support to our neighbours when it’s needed.”

The support for Indonesia follows a new task force being set up last week to monitor Australia’s preparedness for the highly infectious disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs and is expected to cause an $80 billion wipe-out of the industry.

The task force will give advice on the nation’s current level of preparedness for exotic animal diseases, including lumpy skin disease, and any improvements that could be made.

Last month, the Albanese Government also announced a $14 million package to support Indonesia and to increase measures in Australia with 18 new biosecurity officers stationed at airports and mail centres, as well as putting on detector dogs.

Sanitised foot mats have also been installed at all airports, including Perth.

“This is the strongest biosecurity response in our nation’s history — more than any government has ever done before,” Senator Watt said.

“It really is time to turn the page for agriculture. We need to have relationships that are built on honesty and respect. We need a government that charts a path for industry success — not one that sets up road blocks to avoid.”

Senator Watt also confirmed his government would still phase out live sheep exports but that it would not be completed in Labor’s first term.

The national trade is worth $136 million and employs about 3500 people across the supply chain, with 80 per cent of them being based in WA.

“I made it a very early priority to go over to Perth to talk with sheep farmers, meat processors, (and) export firms about the policy, and I’ve been very straight with people to say that I intend to carry out the commitment,” he said.

“That’s largely based on our view that unfortunately for the industry it has lost its social licence because of past events but that we want to do that phase out again in a collaborative way.

“The Prime Minister made clear that it’s not going to be done in this term so there is time to get it right. Since I’ve been in this role, in terms of implementing, I’ve tried to be inclusive.”

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails