‘Nightmare scenario’: Farmers urge travellers to ditch their pluggers to protect Aussie farms

Queenslanders have been warned they should be “very nervous” about a potential outbreak of foot and mouth disease as cases grow in Indonesia, with producers saying if it were to infect our cattle, the livestock landscape would “change forever”.

The Australian agricultural sector – from rural communities to the cities – is “nervous” following a recent outbreak of foot and mouth in Bali, with experts saying it could cause major impacts for consumers at the checkout, too.

Director of the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence Associate Professor Ben Lyons said domestic consumers should be “very nervous” about a potential outbreak which would cause “restricted movement of livestock and restricted kill numbers” within the “export-focused” industry.

He said although Australia has the world’s best national livestock identification scheme (NLIS) a single outbreak could result in thousands of livestock being destroyed.

Although it is unclear how much consumers would be impacted at the checkout, Mr Lyons conceded it would be “worse than lettuce.”

“Beef and lamb export about 70 per cent of their products to premium markets – meat grocers typically sell at higher prices to overseas markets than they do domestically,” My Lyons said.

Mr Lyons said agriculture is “such a key part of our economy” with about 43 per cent of Australian cattle herds in Queensland.

“It’s an export focused industry so domestic people will definitely be feeling the pinch.”

Although there hasn’t been an outbreak in Australia since the late 1800s, foot and mouth is highly contagious and impacts cattle, sheep, pigs and other livestock.

Hughenden beef producer, Hugh Westcott, said if foot and mouth disease were to infect Queensland cattle, the livestock landscape would “change forever”.

“If this disease gets in, millions of livestock are going to die either by us having to euthanize them or the disease killing them,” he said.

“If it gets into Queensland, it’s a genuine game changer in a really negative way.”

Mr Westcott said that while cattle, sheep and pigs would all be in danger of being infected, feral pigs are the biggest worry for most farmers.

“We have a massive feral pig problem, and if it gets into them they are just superspreaders so it will be here forever, it’ll be permanent,” he said.

The threat of the disease is at the forefront of everyone’s mind in the industry, according to Mr Westcott who said it would shut down livestock transport entirely.

“In the last week it’s all anyone is talking about. At the moment it feels like not if but when,” he said.

“It just feels like the government isn’t taking it seriously enough, but if this gets in we won’t be able to transport meat for years.”

It comes as Katter’s Australian Party Leader Robbie Katter claimed 70 per cent of Australia’s red meat industry would be wiped out if either foot and mouth or lumpy skin disease infected local livestock.

QLD politician Robbie Katter. Picture: Liam Kidston.

“The KAP has been in discussions with the government at both the state and federal levels to address the biosecurity threats being posed to Australia by both foot and mouth disease and lumpy skin disease,” he said.

“Both these diseases represent great risk to an enormous industry; this includes a beef industry that injects $6 billion dollars into Queensland each year alone.

“The impacts that these diseases could have on the entire red meat industry in Australia, which is a critical industry, are diabolical – we can’t afford to lose this industry and the risks mean it could be shut down overnight.”

Mr Katter claimed every flight that arrived in Australia from Indonesia represented “the same risk we faced at the start of the Covid-19 outbreak”.

He called for “all the border controls” to be “enhanced and tightened up.”

“We don’t want to see our industries shut down on the basis of complacency by the government, or travellers,” he said.

KAP has also implored the federal government to increase its support to Indonesia in a bid to control the local lumpy skin disease outbreak.

Meanwhile, Aussie tourists are being encouraged to ditch their footwear before returning home in a bid to prevent the disease from reaching our shores.

#ThrowYourThongs: That’s the message from farmers desperate to stop Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) following the outbreak on the holiday island of Bali.

Aussie tourists are being encouraged to ditch their pluggers before returning home in a bid to prevent foot and mouth disease from reaching our shores. (AP Photo/Max Nash)

Farming organisations are now putting their money where their mouth is by offering a discount to travellers who bin their shoes.

National Farmers’ Federation President, Fiona Simson, said treating yourself to a new pair of shoes while on holiday had never been a greater act of national service.

“Foot and Mouth Disease loves to hitchhike on shoes – that means your dirty old holiday pluggers could be the thing that brings this disaster to our shores,” she said.

But travellers returning from Indonesia can now access a 30 per cent Ringers Western discount code, by posting evidence online that they’ve binned their shoes overseas.

“Throw out those tired old thongs – bin them at the airport or your hotel and post proof on social media, and we’ll help you buy a shiny new pair,” Ms Simson said.

Ms Simson said this unprecedented step by industry demonstrates how serious the situation is.

“I never thought we’d be helping people buy new shoes to keep my cattle safe, but here we are,” she said.

“FMD arriving in Australia is a nightmare scenario for farmers like me,

“There’s literally nothing we won’t do to keep it out and keep our animals safe.”

For those who aren’t ready to part with their shoes, Ms Simson said a thorough clean is the next best thing.

“Before you pack your bag to come home, take the time to give your shoes a good clean – paying particular attention to any mud that might be caught in the tread.

“Taking that minute to clean your shoes could prevent a serious disaster back in Australia.

“Most importantly, don’t head straight back to a farm when you get off the plane – we need to keep our country safe,” Ms Simson concluded.

To receive your 30 per cent Ringers Western discount code, simply post a selfie binning your shoes while on holiday, using the hashtag #ThrowYourThongs and tagging in the National Farmers’ Federation.

A code will be sent to the first 500 posters with the offer set to end on July 20, 2022.

In greater Indonesia, it’s estimated that more than 336,000 animals have been affected, with cases reported in 21 provinces, including Java and Sumatra.