FMD: Victorian Government sets up biosecurity taskforce

Victoria’s Agriculture Minister has set up an animal disease taskforce as concerns about diseases including foot and mouth grow.

A new animal disease taskforce is being established by the Victorian Government as a swag of biosecurity risks threaten Australian agriculture.

The detection of foot and mouth disease in Bali in recent months, as well as the risks posed by lumpy skin disease and varroa mite have led to the new committee, comprised of top civil servants and experts.

Victorian Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney will this weekend confirm the Emergency Animal Disease Taskforce, which will begin planning for a rapid response if an outbreak were to occur in Victoria.

She said the plan would focus on bolstering the workforce of Agriculture Victoria to manage the potential economic and environmental threat of FMD.

“Risk assessment and preparedness is key in ensuring we’re best placed to respond if there is a positive detection in livestock in Victoria,” Ms Tierney said.

“We’re doing the work now to protect our industry.

Dr Graeme Cooke, Victoria's chief Veterinary officer. Picture: Zoe Phillips

The taskforce will be co-chaired by Agriculture Victoria chief executive Matt Lowe and Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, with advice from Victoria’s Chief Veterinary Officer Graeme Cooke.

Dr Cooke previously served as the UK’s deputy chief veterinary officer and has first-hand experience of the 2001 FMD outbreak in Great Britain.

“Foot and mouth disease is not yet in Australia – and we all need to keep it that way by having robust measures protecting Australia’s border,” Dr Cooke said.

“However, it is necessary to have plans in place which continue to be worked on in case they are ever needed.”

Dr Cooke and Ms Tierney met with organisers of the Royal Melbourne Show this week as the event launched its 2022 season.

In recent weeks, the Victorian government confirmed more than 300 Agriculture Victoria biosecurity staff were currently undertaking FMD-specific training and emergency exercises.