National body seeks answers after foot baths depart from airports

Cattle Australia is demanding answers after it was startled by the federal government’s changes to biosecurity protocols for foot-and-mouth disease.

Cattle Australia is demanding answers after it was startled by the federal government’s changes to biosecurity protocols for foot-and-mouth disease.

The federal government announced last month it would change protocols for arrivals from Indonesia, with no biosecurity officers on direct flights from Indonesia for foot-and-mouth disease messaging, no sanitation foot mats, and operators no longer required to announce FMD information.

Cattle Australia chief executive Dr Chris Parker said CA found out about the extent of the changes when the government announced them publicly.

The group took part in early briefings on Australia’s FMD response. It has asked the government for more information on the changes but has yet to receive a response.

“CA has asked to be updated on declaration rates and other measures to ensure the removal of the mats does not lead to increased risk,” he said.

A revised risk assessment showed FMD had “stabilised” and was comparable to the situation in other countries.

FMD is currently in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and parts of South America.

The Indonesian outbreak was reported in mid-2022, later spreading to Bali and had a reported 12,000 cases a day at the time.

There is now about 25 reported cases daily.

A Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry spokesperson said a reallocation of resources included additional detector dogs, providing four million vaccines to Indonesia, and training more than 100 quarantine officers.

Warrnambool resident and recent Bali traveller Michael Rogers said he was disappointed when he noticed a lack of information and biosecurity measures at Tullamarine airport.

He has agisted animals at his property, and manages beehives, and a vegetable and preserving business.

“We came in, three planes at once including two from Bali,” he said.

“There were hardly any customs officers and very little checking, and it felt like anything could come in really.

“It doesn’t seem to be on the radar.”

He said he failed to see any FMD informational signage and received no information about the disease or its risks when returning.

“The average traveller going to Bali wouldn’t really care, they only need to go out on a motorbike and stand in a cow pat and they wouldn’t know the difference.”

Dr Parker said there must be proper resources to manage risks.

“CA will hold the government to account in terms of allocation of funds toward these efforts,” he said.