No lumpy skin disease in Australia, Murray Watt assures neighbours

Malaysia’s decision to suspend live cattle imports came despite ongoing consultation from the Australian government to assure them that lumpy skin disease is not present in Australia.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt says the country is holding urgent conversations with trading partners. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Malaysia’s decision to suspend live cattle imports came despite ongoing consultation from the Australian government to assure them that lumpy skin disease is not present in Australia.

Under pressure from Nationals leader David Littleproud, who said the federal government had not done enough to assuage trading partners, the government said urgent consultation with all trading partners had taken place since Indonesia announced a suspension of imports from four Australian facilities last month.

“The Australian government is taking a calm and mature approach to this situation, based on the best biosecurity, diplomatic and industry advice,” a government spokesman said.

“Since Indonesia’s decision to pause exports from four facilities, government officials have had ­urgent consultation with our trading partners to reassure them of our LSD-free status.

“We continue to engage with industry stakeholders and our overseas counterparts, including Malaysia, to reiterate that LSD is not present in Australia.”

The government has repeatedly emphasised that there has been no detection of LSD in Australia and suspects the 13 infected cattle, which tested positive in Indonesia, contracted the virus while sailing off the coast of Indonesia or on arrival in the country.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt on Thursday said testing conducted at the four affected ­cattle yards in the past fortnight had not identified any cattle with the disease.

“The testing results are starting to come in and there is nothing that we have seen so far to alter our position that Australia is free of lumpy skin disease,” Senator Watt said.

Lumpy skin disease causes production losses in cattle.

“But our biosecurity officials are urgently working with both Malaysia and Indonesia to meet their requirements, to demonstrate conclusively that we don’t have lumpy skin disease, and we hope to see that trade reopen as quickly as possible.”

He said the government believed Malaysia had acted based solely on Indonesia’s response.

“We have been very active in assuring all of our trading partners that we don’t have lumpy skin disease in Australia,” he said.

“But, of course, we can’t control the actions of other countries and they’re within their rights to ask us to demonstrate the disease-free status of our cattle in Australia, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Mr Littleproud called on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to personally take charge of the issue to assuage other trading partners and prevent similar suspensions like that announced by Malaysia.