Greatest Biosecurity Threat Hovers Over Northern Australia: Chief Vet

Cattle take higher ground at a flooded farm in Richmond, Australia, on March 25, 2021. (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Australia’s chief veterinary officer has warned that the country’s agriculture industry faces its “greatest biosecurity threat” in decades.

Dr. Mark Schipp’s warning comes after Indonesia witnessed the re-emergence of foot and mouth disease (FMD) in early May, which followed an outbreak of lumpy skin disease in March and African swine fever earlier.

“The incursion of three of those diseases of concern into Indonesia in the past two or three years is of very significant concern,” Schipp said in comments obtained by AAP.

The chief veterinarian said the outbreak in Indonesia doubled the risk of FMD entering Australia from nine to 18 percent, and that the Australian Chief Veterinary Office would conduct an assessment in the upcoming weeks.

“It reflects the substantial change in our biosecurity situation. We had Indonesia, Timor Leste, and Papua New Guinea as a disease-free buffer ... but we’re losing that buffer,” he said, while visiting Darwin to discuss biosecurity threats with chief vets from across the country.

According to Schipp, all of the diseases were now active in Indonesia and in some instances had spread across the region.

“We know if we had a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Australia, it would be very difficult to respond to ... and the trade impacts on Australia’s livestock and loss of product exports would be absolutely immense,” he said.

“Foot and mouth disease ... would have absolutely devastating consequences for animal agriculture in Australia.”

The vet also warned that Indonesia’s vaccination efforts have had little effect at curbing the spread of lumpy skin disease.

Mixed breed cattle are seen in Meandarra, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

FMD, which was last seen in Indonesia over three decades ago, broke out in East Java and Sumatra provinces and has infected more than a thousand cattle in each area—the huge number of cattle in the region has raised concerns the disease could continue spreading.

The vet also warned that the lack of vets in parts of the country would hamper quarantine efforts.

“A delay in detection will mean that the outbreak will be far larger and require much greater resources to respond to,” he said.

A request by the Veterinary Office to the government for $400 million (US$280 million) in extra funding was approved last year.

The National Farmers’ Federation, a non-profit organisation representing farmers in Australia, said that agricultural and regional communities could suffer $65 billion (US$45.7 billion) in damage if FMD were to spread.

“It’s critical. It’s almost like another Ruby Princess moment for agriculture and Australia ... when one of these diseases hits our shores,” NFF President Fiona Simson said in comments obtained by AAP.

Station hand Maddie Stiller delivers feed along the cattle troughs at 'Old Bombine' in Meandarra, Australia, on Jan. 18, 2021. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the incumbent Coalition government had spent $66.6 million in 2019 to deal with the global spread of African swine fever and would provide a further $58.6 million to continue that work. Another $20 million has been earmarked for farmers to increase biosecurity and tracing measures.

“I will take my advice from the chief veterinary office as the foot and mouth disease situation evolves. We stand ready to assist Indonesia to manage this outbreak and to work with state and territory governments and industry to prevent and prepare for this disease,” Littleproud said.

Further, the minister promised that if the Coalition was re-elected at the upcoming election, it would invest over $61 million in biosecurity measures to deal with lumpy skin disease.

The opposition Labor Party criticised the Coalition government for not providing enough funding for the “vital biosecurity system” and pledged to enhance Australia’s biosecurity capabilities, in its agriculture policy announcement on May 12. However, Labor has not made committed any specific dollar commitments.