Michelle Landry (Capricornia, National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Manufacturing) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak in support of this motion. In the nine short weeks since it came to office, the Labor Party has had a biosecurity crisis on its hands, with a potential outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease—a crisis of its own doing, due to inaction and ineffective decision-making. Regional and rural electorates like Capricornia will be on the frontlines of a potential outbreak. An outbreak would be devastating to the Central Queensland economy and Australia's $80 billion livestock industry. But don't just take my word for it. Regional Development Australia Central and Western Queensland commissioned a report titled the Economic significance of the livestock industry to Central and Western Queensland. It painted a dire picture of what could happen to the region should an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occur. I want to congratulate RDA Central and Western Queensland for taking the proactive step of releasing this report. This report states that an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease will cost the region $1.1 billion, which is 5.2 per cent of the region's economy. In my electorate, $214.4 million would be written off Rockhampton's economy, and $121.8 million would be written off Livingstone Shire. Jobs would also be at risk. If an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease occurs, approximately 7,034 jobs in Rockhampton and 3,960 jobs in the Livingstone Shire would be lost.

Beef is important to Capricornia. Rockhampton is known worldwide as the beef capital of Australia. Rockhampton hosts Beef Australia expos every three years, and people from all over Australia and the world come to Rockhampton to see the quality of Australian beef and discuss cutting-edge agriculture practices. Beef 2021 was a record year, with a total attendance of 115,886 people, an increase of 15 per cent from the 2018 event, with the average person visiting the event for 2.81 days. The coalition government proudly supported the event with a contribution of $3.9 million. All that progress would be at risk, and we simply cannot afford this potential hit to our local economies and to our local jobs. I remember seeing the images from the United Kingdom in 2001 of the carcasses of cows and sheep piled high, with flames engulfing them. Over six million sheep and cattle were destroyed to contain the spread. I genuinely fear we could see the same here in Australia.

Unfortunately, we now have an agriculture minister from the Gold Coast who fundamentally does not understand what foot-and-mouth disease can do to electorates like the one I represent. I have previously called on the Prime Minister to take direct control of biosecurity measures after Minister Watt's failures on containing foot-and-mouth disease and his slow response in rolling out measures to prevent the spread. Senator Watt was more than happy to throw criticisms around when he was a humble senator in opposition, but it seems he has proven to have a glass jaw when rightful criticism is levelled his way. I have sympathy for the minister. Being in government is serious, and people's lives depend on your decisions. I understand he might not be used to the responsibility.

In response to recent foot-and-mouth disease detections in Melbourne and Adelaide, Labor has made an embarrassing backdown to finally introduce sanitised foot mats at international airports. This is a move that is weeks overdue and an important measure that the federal coalition has been calling for since FMD was first detected. Labor's dithering and delay in implementing this simple but important measure is unfortunate. In recent weeks, tens of thousands of people have come into Australia from Indonesia without having to disinfect their shoes.

The government are failing this basic—but serious—test on biosecurity, and it's time for them to toughen up and take control of this crisis on our borders. Unlike those opposite, the Liberal National Party understands the risk of foot-and-mouth disease because we live in the communities where an outbreak would damage them severely. We call on the government to immediately ban passengers bringing any food products into Australia, and we also call for the installation of 3D X-ray machines at major international airports and for offering one to Indonesia. We also call for the bringing forward of $20 million in funding for a traceability program for ear tags and the bringing forward of $10 million in funding for the national livestock gene bank. It is our view that consideration needs to be given to stronger measures, including introducing border controls that restrict travel from Indonesia. The opposition will continue to be constructive on this developing situation, but, at this new juncture, there are biosecurity and border questions that need to be answered.

Australian farmers need to be confident that our borders are secure against the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, and their patience is wearing thin. This disease would be catastrophic for our farmers, for the Australian economy and for the everyday cost of food. No stone should be left unturned, and no option left off the table in protecting Australia from foot-and-mouth disease.

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