FMD: New biosecurity rules for all flights from Indonesia

Farmers have long been calling for extra screening and foot mats to stop FMD coming into Australia and the government has finally agreed.

Tightened biosecurity measures such as walking on sterilising foot mats can now be enforced on tourists returning from Indonesia and Bali under changes made this afternoon.

With foot mats beginning to arrive in international terminals across Australia today, Biosecurity Response Zones will be set up at international airports, to try to prevent foot and mouth disease entering Australia.

Passengers lining up for flights at Melbourne Airport. Picture: Tony Gough

It is the first time this has been done under section 365 of the Biosecurity Act 2015.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he had directed his department to look at further control measures at international airports.

Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt addresses a press conference about the current threat of foot and mouth disease in Australia. Picture: Sarah Marshall

“I had been concerned about some rare reports that some return travellers were not doing the right thing when returning from Indonesia,” Minister Watt said.

“These zones strengthen and widen the powers of biosecurity officers to direct passengers to use foot mats and other biosecurity control measures such as the cleaning of shoes.”

Minister Watt said parts of the act could force travellers to adhere to measures such as sterilising shoes.

“Currently, under existing legislation, our biosecurity officers have the power to request passengers who are deemed to be a risk to do certain things – whether it be walk over these foot mats as they’re installed, or whether it be to hand over their shoes for cleaning or other things,” Minister Watt said.

“The difference with these new powers is that rather than having the ability to ask individual passengers to do certain things and relying on their agreement, these new powers … apply to all passengers where circumstances required.”

National Farmers' Federation president Fiona Simson speaks during a press conference in Brisbane about new biosecurity measures.

Minister Watt said the new rules would apply to all flights from Indonesia and for a trial period of up to three months.

National Farmers Federation president Fiona Simson said it was the organisation’s view that “absolutely every passenger should be screened”.

“We believe the farmers don’t want to take any risks at all,” Ms Simson said.

“Farmers do not want any stone left unturned.

“And we’re continually talking to government about what else they can do in terms of removing the risk of not only the travelling public but also the larger risk I have to say of people bringing in meat products.”