Carol Brown (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | Hansard source

We have a senator that keeps interjecting and talking—as far as I can see, with what's been put in the media—about going down and washing feet. I'm not sure why she thinks that's some sort of a good response.

The minister outlined quite clearly what has been happening. For the benefit of the senators opposite, I will go through some of the responses that have been put in place, but it is a coordinated and comprehensive response. In fact, as the minister has said, the responses and the initiatives that have been put in place are the most comprehensive ever seen in Australia. That's because the Albanese Labor government take the issue of foot-and-mouth disease very seriously.

To be honest, it is a sad, sad day when, in the very first question time, the new opposition comes up with questions that show their lack of real interest. They're only interested in political pointscoring, when the issues around foot-and-mouth disease pose real and serious risk to Australia. The Labor government has introduced the toughest biosecurity measures ever used in Australia, and the minister has been very effective in the rollout of measures to combat foot-and-mouth disease but also in his discussions with the Indonesian government.

As the minister has talked about, we are providing at least one million doses to Indonesia for their foot-and-mouth vaccination program. We've put together a $14 million biosecurity package for Australia's frontline defence and are providing more technical support for countries currently battling foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy-skin disease. As the minister also indicated in his response, foot-and-mouth disease is currently in over 70 countries.

What the opposition should be doing is joining—in fact, they should be supporting the minister in his work, because the minister has put together and rolled out a very comprehensive set of measures. The foot-and-mouth disease did reach Indonesia prior to the election being held, but you couldn't get a better response than what is being put together and rolled out, by the minister, on behalf of the Albanese Labor government.