Brian Mitchell (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Before I get to the meat of my written speech, I want to address a few issues. The member for Wannon, in an absolutely unhinged contribution, asked: 'Why isn't all luggage being screened? Why isn't all food being banned?' He claimed that farmers wants the borders closed. I looked online, and there's a small group of farmers in his electorate who do want the borders closed, but I'll tell you who doesn't want the borders closed. The National Farmers Federation, the Australian Livestock Exporters Council, the Australian Meat Industry Council, the Cattle Council of Australia and Sheep Producers Australia all oppose closing the border. If the member for Wannon is going to come into this chamber and claim that farmers want the border closed, he needs to go and have a talk to these groups, which represent the vast majority of livestock interests in this country.

The member for Forrest, in a thoughtful contribution, mentioned the impacts that FMD might have on a farm such as hers. Nobody argues with that. We know, in the government, that FMD is a very serious and significant issue that we are dealing with. But I've got to say this: before this outbreak in Indonesia, there was a nine per cent chance of FMD coming to Australia; it's gone up to 11 per cent. Nobody disputes that the risk has gone up. But all those risks to dairying and cattle that the member for Forrest was talking about existed before this outbreak, and there was still a nine per cent chance of it happening then.

So, it's really important that we turn off the panic switch. And it's not just me saying that. New South Wales Farmers Biosecurity Chair Ian McColl is quoted as saying that politicians are 'fanning the flames of fear'. He said:

Farmers have argued for stronger, sustainably-funded biosecurity systems for years—this isn't something that's just happened overnight.

He made the point that FMD is of course endemic throughout Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, and it has been for years. He went on to say:

Those people out there who suggested we need to slam shut travel to Indonesia don't understand that would only give a false sense of security, which could actually increase the risk of FMD coming from elsewhere.

And:

It's up to all of us to do the right thing and stop spreading fear and rumour.

I implore those opposite who represent the regions, who represent farming interests, to put your farmers first, put your regions first and stop fanning the flames of fear. Stop spreading fear on this issue. The government is taking this issue very seriously. It's put in some of the strongest biosecurity measures seen in this country's history. It's working with Indonesian authorities to limit the spread to make sure that it doesn't come onto our shores. It's implemented the foot pads. It's implemented tighter screening. The Australian government stands shoulder to shoulder with the regions and with the farming interests in this country to keep FMD out of Australia.

Any suggestion by those opposite that the Australian government is not doing everything reasonable and proper on this issue is just fearmongering; that's exactly what it is. And it's not just me saying that. That's New South Wales Farmers, saying to those opposite, 'Stop fanning the flames of fear.' It might be in your political interests to try and generate a headline, to try and get your faces in the paper. But it's not in the national interest for you to do that. You're affecting our overseas markets with your behaviour.

Foot-and-mouth disease is absolutely one of the most concerning and dangerous diseases facing Australia's agricultural industry. It can devastate agricultural sectors. In recent months it has spread throughout Indonesia, including Bali. That's why the government is taking it very seriously, with the tighter measures that we have implemented. People across my electorate are understandably concerned, but the farmers in my electorate are also mature, and they have a strong streak of common sense. They know that the government is taking the threat seriously and that panic does not help anyone.

The gross farmgate value of agricultural production in Tasmania exceeded $2 billion for the first time in 2021, due in no small part to the irrigation schemes the former Labor state government initiated. And Labor is determined to protect Tasmania's agricultural sector. The Albanese Labor government is determined to keep foot-and-mouth disease out of Australia, and I thank the Minister for Agriculture, Senator Murray Watt, for his tireless efforts, which will no doubt continue.

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