Pig centre closure while African swine fever creeps closer

The Pig Services Centre at Bendigo has been temporarily closed in an effort to stem the spread of coronavirus.

The Pig Services Centre at Bendigo has been closed temporarily by Agriculture Victoria. PHOTO: DOMINIQUE PATTON/REUTERS

THE Victorian Government has temporarily shut its Pig Services Centre at Bendigo in an effort to protect “high risk staff” from the spread of coronavirus.

It comes as the African Swine Fever virus creeps closer to Australian shores, with Papua New Guinea confirming detection of the virus in pig herds last week.

Agriculture Victoria confirmed the centre was temporarily suspended at the end of last month, with no job losses and staff to continue being paid.

According to the department, the centre intends to manufacture pre-existing vaccine orders.

Victorian Farmers Federation pig group president Tim Kingma said he was concerned for the future of the centre, which he called an “essential service” for the red-meat industry.

“They really service not only the bigger farms, but the smaller family farms. That’s what the Government should be there for, to support all farmers. The diagnostic lab they’ve got is really good,” Mr Kingma said.

“They’ve still got the staff working in the lab, working on vaccines. If they were really honest about the safety of staff you’d just cancel everything … we’re getting very conflicting messages,” Mr Kingma said.

“As an Australian pig producer I believe we are world leaders, we’re creating vaccines that work really well, and the department has been really good at that. For me, that goes against everything I view that Australians are brilliant at.

“Only last week we had African swine fever detected in Papua New Guinea. That’s only a stone’s throw away.”

Agriculture Victoria stated the centre did not have a direct role in the investigation of African swine fever or other emergency animal diseases.

It is understood operations at the centre, which manufactures vaccines and provides diagnostic services, will resume “when deemed safe to do so”.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said farmers could access the type of services provided by the PSC elsewhere. during the closure.

Agriculture Victoria has worked with a private company offering similar services at comparable prices.

SWINE FEVER CREEPS CLOSER TO AUSTRALIA