ADF, border force to head new biosecurity task force

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt will convene a new biosecurity task force to ensure Australia is prepared for any exotic animal disease emergencies.

High ranking officials from the defence force, border force and emergency management have been enlisted to a new biosecurity task force and given a month to report on Australia’s readiness for an outbreak of an exotic disease.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt announced the Exotic Animal Disease Preparedness task force would be headed by Emergency Management Australia and the Department of Agriculture, and would work with state and territories on the nation’s readiness to respond to an animal disease biosecurity emergency, such as foot and mouth disease or lumpy skin disease.

“While the Federal, State and Territory Governments all have well-developed biosecurity response plans in place, we will leave no stone unturned to ensure we are ready, should an outbreak occur,” Mr Watt said.

“That’s why I have directed the establishment of this task force, to thoroughly assess our current level of national preparedness and advise of any improvements needed.”

He said the task force would begin work immediately, conducting scenario-based exercises within the next month.

It comes just days after Victoria announced it would establish its own animal disease task force to begin planning for a rapid response to a swag of biosecurity threats to agricultural trade.

Shadow Minister Agriculture David Littleproud has questioned whether the new task force was a rebadging of biosecurity preparedness efforts already underway under the former Coalition Government.

“The Minister has tried to dress this up as a new initiative but it will go nowhere towards reassuring farmers of his ability to handle this situation,” Mr Littleproud said.

Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has increased biosecurity measures at Australian international airports to protect the farming industry from Indonesia’s foot and mouth disease outbreak. PICTURE: Dan Peled/Getty Images

The Albanese Government announced a $14 million biosecurity package to improve frontline biosecurity and industry preparedness, and to provide technical expertise to Indonesia on July 14.

It is unclear whether this $14 million represents new money being funnelled into biosecurity, or if it’s to be drawn from funding set aside for biosecurity in the Morrison Government’s federal budgets.

National Farmers’ Federation president Fiona Simson said it was imperative the task force engaged with industry.

“It’s critical that this new task force establish a strong working partnership with industry, including our established structures and formalised response frameworks,” she said.

The task force must report back to Minister Watt’s office with advice on any additional measures deemed necessary to bolster the nation’s response to a major biosecurity threat by September 5.