Foot and mouth disease: Victoria’s new biosecurity package

New cash will be pumped into Victoria’s agricultural biosecurity response, as foot and mouth disease concerns linger.

Livestock scanners and rapid testing equipment will form part of a new $23 million emergency animal disease package to be announced today.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney will today confirm the cash injection into the state’s biosecurity response, as concerns linger over a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Indonesia.

Funding will go towards the recruitment of biosecurity experts, field-based operational roles and provide training to a workforce tasked with preparing for any biosecurity outbreak.

The Andrews government will also purchase automated diagnostic equipment that will fast-track FMD sample testing.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney. Picture: Nicole Cleary

Ms Tierney said cash would also go towards essential tools such as livestock identification scanners and sensors at livestock accumulation points.

“We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure government, industry and the community have the tools and capabilities to protect our valued livestock industries,” the Victorian Agriculture Minister said.

“We will continue engaging with the industry and farmers to ensure they are prepared if an outbreak occurred.”

Funding will be provided to the Environment Protection Authority and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning to support a response and to reduce environmental risks associated with a possible outbreak.

Today’s $23 million package follows an initial $10 million investment made in August for portable sample testing, mobile incident centres, IT system upgrades and specialist training materials.

Concerns over FMD entering Australia have abated in recent months after a May detection of the disease in Bali led to a dash to Jakarta by federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt.

Fresh calls were made earlier this week by agricultural groups to temporarily close the border with Indonesia for non-essential travel.

Australian Livestock and Rural Transporters Association spokesman Mathew Munro called on federal MPs to back a temporary border block.

“We recognise that many Australians love a Bali holiday but there’s just too much at stake to risk our domestic livestock industries,” Mr Munro told the Senate committee.