Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

FMD, foot-and-mouth disease, is a terrible disease on our doorstep. Lumpy skin disease, LSD, is also a very real threat on our doorstep. Lumpy skin disease is a disease that can be carried by parasites, by insects, on the wind. Foot-and-mouth disease is a debilitating disease that creates ulcers and pussy sores on the tongues of hoofed animals—pigs, goats, the Australian cattle herd—and, if not tended to, render a beast unable to eat. They stand there drooling, eventually starving to death. They suffer the same agonising pain from ulcers and sores on their feet, which makes them unable to stand. This is a very real threat, and it's on our doorstep.

The agriculture sector in Australia was one of the two—along with the resources sector—that held up our economy through the COVID disaster. At all times we must protect your agriculture sector from this debilitating disease. Graziers are fearful for their livelihoods and for their stock and property values, and they're fearful that not enough is being done.