MOYNE Shire Council is supporting calls for extra biosecurity measures to be taken to protect the local, vital agriculture sector and ensure it remains free from the highly contagious viral foot-and-mouth (FMD) disease. 

The Shire’s mayor, Ian Smith, backed calls for Australians holidaying on the popular holiday island of Bali to leave their boots behind upon their return, following confirmation of FMD in livestock in Indonesia.

“If there was to be an outbreak of FMD here it would be devastating,” he said.

“FMD can be carried on clothing and footwear - there are lots of local people heading off on a holiday over the next few weeks, so I ask that they do everything they can to ensure they aren’t bringing the disease home with them.

“If that means leaving footwear or clothing behind or giving them a good scrub before getting on the flight, then please do it.”

Cr Smith said agriculture, forestry and fishing is the largest employer in the Moyne Shire, with 37 per cent of residents employed in the sector.

“Agriculture, fishing and forestry contributes $680 million to the Moyne economy, which is 28 per cent of Moyne’s total economic output,” he said.

“The manufacturing sector, which includes dairy food processing, employs 17 per cent of Moyne residents and contributes a further $915 million, or 38 per cent of Moyne’s gross economic output.”

FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, deer and pigs.

While infection with the disease causes serious production losses, it also impacts the trade of livestock and livestock products.

“An outbreak of FMD would be devastating for not just our local farmers, but it would flow onto the manufacturing sector and would have wide ranging impacts on the whole local economy,” Cr Smith said.

“We would see significant animal deaths and the agriculture industry would be brought to a standstill.

“It’s vital that we stop this disease from entering Australia and the south-west and we all have a role to play in doing that.”

Meanwhile, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry minister, Murray Watt, will hold face-to-face talks with his Indonesian counterparts in Jakarta this week to support Indonesia’s efforts to contain the spread of FMD.

 Minister Watt will be accompanied by senior officials from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, including Australia’s chief veterinary officer, Dr Mark Schipp, along with National Farmers’ Federation president, Fiona Simson.

 This high-level delegation demonstrates a united stand between government and the farm sector, to ensure we keep Australian agriculture safe.

 Minister Watt said the two-day visit was the next step in the Federal Government’s effort to combat FMD, building on new biosecurity measures introduced, including extra screening of travellers, luggage and mail, biosecurity detector dogs, more information for travellers, and signage in airports.

 The ministerial delegation will solidify efforts by both countries to prevent FMD spreading further.

 “The Albanese Government is taking strong action on FMD at home and abroad. This two-pronged approach is about strengthening our biosecurity defences at home and supporting Indonesia to manage and contain the outbreak there,” minister Watt said.

 The visit builds upon the strong foundation made by Australia’s prime minister visit to Indonesia last month, where he offered vaccines and technical expertise to assist Indonesia responding to FMD.

 “FMD would have a significant impact on Australian agriculture if it reaches our shores, and we are taking practical measures to prevent that,” minister Watt said.

 While in Indonesia, minister Watt will meet with the Indonesian ministers for Agriculture, Disaster Management and Fisheries, as well as with leading Indonesian agribusiness representatives.

 For more information on FMD, visit agriculture.gov.au/footandmouthdisease