Farmers fear an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the South Burnett could be catastrophic

‘It’s too late if it gets here’: South Burnett farmers have called for immediate action on the outbreak of foot and mouth in Bali, fearing a local outbreak could decimate the region and turn Australia into a “third world country”.

South Burnett farmers have called for immediate action on a recent outbreak of foot and mouth in Bali, fearing a local outbreak could decimate the region and turn Australia into a “third world country”.

Wooroolin pig producer Mark Young, whose family has been farming in the South Burnett for a century, says an outbreak of foot and mouth disease would bankrupt his family.

“Not hundreds, but thousands of people in the South Burnett depend on agriculture,” Mr Young said.

“After Covid, after debt, after bushfires, after everything, I actually think foot and mouth in Australia wiping out the livestock herds would turn us into a third world country.”

Mr Young said while his family followed strict biosecurity measures, an outbreak in the wild pig population would make the spread of the virus extremely difficult to control in the region.

Beginning with the local producers, he said the consequences would be devastating.

“Apart from all the farmers going broke, you've got your knock on-effect,” he said.

“I don't know how many city people these days, who have a cappuccino at least once a day or go to a coffee shop, realise the impact this would have on the fresh milk market.

“And then you’ll go into Woolworths and won’t be able to find beef or pork products on the shelves for months.

“Every man, woman and child in this country will pay the bill for the rest of their lives.”

Councillor Scott Henschen, who is a third-generation farmer from Ironpot, said an outbreak could cause $80 billion of destruction in Australia’s agricultural industry.

Scott 'Hook' Henschen is running as a councillor for Division 6.

With agriculture alone making up about 71 per cent of the South Burnett’s economy, he warned an outbreak could quickly trigger a deadly flow-on effect, starting with producers being forces to kill their animals and the closure of the region’s largest employer, Swickers Bacon Factory.

“You’ll then have every grain producer that sells to feedlots out of business, and how many trucks come in to Kingaroy each day to transport the 3500 pigs killed per day? That will also stop,” he said.

“Take the next step. Clubs, pubs, hotels, restaurants, and supermarkets - there won’t be produce on the shelves.”

Cr Henschen said while a “foot dip” has been proposed for travellers returning home from Bali, the virus is still able to cling onto passenger’s clothing and other items.

“What the government have spent on COVID-19, they have to do with foot and mouth disease control,” he said.

“We should cease and suspend all travel from Bali and Indonesia. It’s too late if it gets here.”

South Burnett Regional Council voted on Wednesday to write to the Federal Government and request the temporary suspension of flights.

Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said “the clock is ticking” for the Federal Government to prioritise the issue, saying the current approach has been “dangerously indecisive at a time when Australian farmers are crying out for tough measures”.

Originally published as Farmers fear an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in the South Burnett could be catastrophic