Senator Matt Canavan calls for more biosecurity measures following biosecurity senate inquiry

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan says he’s “not convinced” there are enough measures in place to protect Australia’s agriculture industry from threats of FMD. Here’s what was spoken about in the inquiry.

A Central Queensland senator has said more needs to be done to ensure Australia has enough resources to manage potential livestock disease outbreaks after a senate inquiry last week.

Queensland Senator Matt Canavan this week welcomed the Federal Government’s roll out of biosecurity measures at airports and mail centres, but said he was not convinced there were sufficient resources to manage a potential outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Australia.

Mr Canavan, who is the chair of the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee, participated in the committee’s Senate Inquiry last week with plans to get more detail on the management of FMD.

“After a slow start I welcome the fact that the Government has now rolled out biosecurity measures to our airports and mail centres. Thank god there was no outbreak in the meantime,” Mr Canavan said.

“A big part of this inquiry is not only to make sure that we keep it out, but to make sure that we‘re adequately prepared if the worst does happen.

“From our first hearings I am not convinced that we have sufficient resources to manage outbreak. We will be looking more into this.

“We’re hoping to hold more hearings, especially one locally in Rockhampton to hear from industry and different stakeholders to see if there’s areas of improvement that are needed, and to learn how a biosecurity breach will impact them.”

The inquiry kicked off on August 11, which had an opening address from Secretary and Director of Biosecurity Andrew Metcalfe.

In his opening address to the inquiry, Mr Metcalfe said Australia was “never complacent” when it came to biosecurity risks.

“Australia’s biosecurity controls are set to prevent the introduction and subsequent exposure of Australian animals to FMD and have done this successfully for 150 years since the last significant outbreak in 1872 in Werribee, Victoria,” he said.

“The AUSVETPLAN contains the nationally-agreed approach for the response to emergency animal disease incidents in Australia, shared across the Commonwealth, all jurisdictions and with Animal Health Australia.

“We fully understand the consequences of these pests and diseases. We have mobilised all available resources, our networks across industry and government, and international partners, to keep Australia FMD and LSD free.

“We are open to new ideas and welcome the attention of this Committee. We are enlisting the best minds in biosecurity in Australia and leading extensive engagement with industry leaders.”

Mr Canavan said he was keen to get the inquiry out into the regions to hear from industry.