Councillor Scott Henschen scolds government, industry leaders over lack of action on foot and mouth disease

A councillor was reduced to tears as he offered a scathing response to the government’s handling of the foot and mouth disease threat, saying he’d taken an “unprecedented” step and sold cattle because he’s “not prepared to shoot them”.

In a scathing response to the government's handling of the foot and mouth disease threat, an emotional South Burnett councillor said he’d taken an “unprecedented” step as a primary producer and sold cattle because he was “not prepared to shoot them”.

Scott Henschen said the response so far had been “pathetic” and was forcing primary producers to take the matters into their own hands while industry leaders and our politicians are “pussy-footing around”.

The Ironpot cattle producer said the council “needs to put the fear of God into people”.

“At Gracemere this week, 5200 head of cattle were yarded, Charters Towers 2673, Dalby 6075, Roma 10,593,” Cr Henschen said.

“There is talk on the street that because of the potential catastrophe to this country, saleyards and operators and agents are going to stop and limit numbers to saleyards because of mass fear.

“This chamber knows that I took the unprecedented step yesterday as a primary producer. I sold cattle because I’m not prepared to shoot them.”

South Burnett councillor Scott Henschen said he’s taken an “unprecedented” step as a primary producer and sold cattle because he’s “not prepared to shoot them”.

Cr Henschen was reduced to tears as he explained that foot and mouth disease had the potential to “absolutely ruin this country”.

“I do not think this country is aware of what this epidemic could mean,” he said.

“And yet we have leaders and advocates in our industry sitting on their hands and doing absolutely nothing with this.”

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences modelling has previously projected a widespread FMD outbreak in Australia would have an estimated direct economic impact of about $80 billion.

The councillor’s emotional plea came as traces of the disease were found on an undeclared meat product brought into the country from Indonesia.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced on Wednesday that foot mats would be installed in international airports across Australia in coming days, using skin-safe citric acid to dislodge dirt from the shoes of travellers coming in from Indonesia.

Foot and mouth disease infects cloven-hoofed animals and people can carry it on their shoes, clothes or in their noses, where it can survive for up to 24 hours.

Cattle being inspected in Indonesia for traces of foot and mouth disease. (Photo by PERDIANSYAH /AFP)

In an opinion piece written on Tuesday, AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said “over-reaction is not uncommon at the moment” particularly “given the $80 billion impact an outbreak could have on our industry”.

“I want to reassure everyone that while AgForce takes the threat of FMD very seriously, now is not the time to panic,” he wrote.

“The country has rigorous biosecurity measures in place so that we don’t have to resort to extreme measures to keep this virus from our shores.”

Mr Guerin said AgForce was also working with the Federal Government on the Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan, which contained the nationally agreed approach for the response to emergency animal disease incidents in Australia.

Nanango MP Deb Frecklington said the threat of foot and mouth disease should not be underestimated.

“It is a massive concern, and I don’t think our economy has faced a bigger threat than foot and mouth disease,” she said.

“I support the call to heighten biosecurity at our national borders and for people returning from Indonesia to be vigilant and respectful of the biosecurity threat they pose.

“Agriculture and the livestock industry is the backbone of the entire Nanango electorate, and this is an issue which affects my community as a whole.”

Mrs Frecklington said she was also very concerned about the mental health impacts on the region’s primary producers after years of drought, floods, Covid restrictions, and now disease concerns.