A RESOLUTION was unanimously passed at the protest rally attended by over 200 people on Wednesday in Colac, calling on the Federal Government to immediately impose a 120-day travel ban to Indonesia for all nonessential travel.

Community members, including farmers, business owners and employees gathered at the Colac Memorial Square to protest the government’s handling of the recent threat of foot and mouth disease (FMD) and circulate a petition.

Western Region MP, Bev McArthur, and Polwarth MP, Richard Riordan, who addressed the crowd, joined the protesters in sending a message to both the State and Federal Government that the action they have taken so far to protect Australia’s livestock and agricultural industry from the threat of FMD has been too slow and inadequate.

The ‘Rally For A Response’ organiser and dairy farmer from Alvie, north west of Colac, Peter Delahunty, said he was pleased with the response to the rally which he said represented the increasing fear being felt throughout the community.

“It was really pleasing to see the number of people who turned up, especially having been organised at short notice,” he said.

“There is a great level of anxiety in the community and in the town.

“It’s not just the farmers – it has a flow on effect.

“We have big Ag industries locally and there are a lot of workers concerned as well – that their livelihoods are at risk.”

Mr Delahunty said a number of speakers addressed the crowd including himself, a butcher from Colac, a young farmer and the local MPs in attendance.

“We had a good media presence as well as strong national media interest,” he said.

“I did an interview with Raf Epstein (ABC) after the protest.

“We feel there is a disconnect between industry leaders and farmers on the ground who say it is too great a risk to our trade relationship with Indonesia, if we were to close the border.

“But we feel, in the farming community – that if we get FMD in Australia, we won’t be trading with anyone – let alone Indonesia.

“The priority should be getting the threat under control – we are asking for a 120-day temporary suspension of non-essential travel to Indonesia as a start.

“If the boot was on the other foot – would Indonesia be letting Australian tourists go to Bali?

“So far, the biosecurity measures the government has put in place seem to be happening in a haphazard way.

“Every country has the sovereign right to protect their biosecurity.”

Mrs McArthur said the response had been overwhelming and showed the true concern the farming community had regarding the risk.

“Farmers across Western Victoria have made it very clear that acting on this issue tomorrow is too late,” she said.

“It must be today.

“The damage will not just hit regional Victoria - it will also hurt the cities in the cascade of jobs that will be impacted and the cost and availability of food and clothing.

 “’Rally For A Response’ was just that: a rally to demand a response - the efficiency and effectiveness of that response will make the difference between Australia escaping a crisis or falling deep into one which could take decades to climb out of.

 “The Victorian Government was quick to close borders if somebody sneezed during Covid’s dark days, yet it seems incapable of closing the borders for a brief period for this crisis.”

A petition to be presented to the House of Representatives was also circulated, calling for greater transparency on how recent decisions on border controls were formed, what support had been given to Indonesia to control the outbreak and under what timelines.

It also called for an immediate ban on passengers bringing food products in from Indonesia and for restrictions on travel from Indonesia if the government failed to act.

The resolution’s accompanying statement stated it was “not an attack on our friends in Indonesia”.

“We believe both Australia and Indonesia need breathing space - 120 days will provide this.

“It can be shortened if it is deemed we reach our goals sooner.

“If trade is affected in Indonesia it will still pale into insignificance from the trade implications of a foot and mouth outbreak in Australia.”