Foot-and-Mouth Disease

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI (Leader of the Opposition) (14:23): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development about foot-and-mouth disease.

Leave granted.

The Hon. N.J. CENTOFANTI: Foot-and-mouth disease is regarded as one of the most significant disease threats to Australia's livestock industry, with the Cattle Council suggesting an outbreak could cost the sector $100 billion. Indonesia is currently dealing with an outbreak and there are fears that if it reaches Bali there could be a foot-and-mouth highway created between Australia's major airports and Bali. My questions to the minister are:

1. Has the minister's department briefed her on possible initiatives to mitigate the risks of foot-and-mouth disease and ensure South Australia's preparedness in the event of an outbreak?

2. What initiatives have been or are being introduced to mitigate the risks of an outbreak and to prepare South Australia in the event of an outbreak?

3. Has the minister's department made any requests for additional resources to support these proposed initiatives?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (14:24): I thank the Leader of the Opposition for her question. Foot-and-mouth disease is indeed one of Australia's greatest livestock biosecurity risks. In April 2022, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was detected in cattle in Indonesia. So far, I am advised, the disease has been detected in East Java and Sumatra; however, it is likely that the disease is in fact more widespread.

The Australian government (the federal government) has offered assistance to Indonesia to combat and contain the foot-and-mouth outbreak. This comes on top of the assistance already being provided to respond to an outbreak of lumpy skin disease that was recently detected in Sumatra. It is likely that this outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Indonesia will take many years to eradicate. This biosecurity threat will remain a high risk to Australia for the near future.

A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Australia would have a devastating impact on Australia's livestock industry, with severe economic losses due to a shutdown of Australia's export markets for live animals, meat and animal products. In 2011, modelling showed the costs of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Australia were estimated to be between $6 billion and $50 billion—a very wide range—depending on the size of the outbreak, and the impacts would be felt over many years. These figures are being updated by ABARES, and early estimates indicate it could be $80 billion to $100 billion. The impacts of a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak would be felt well beyond agriculture.

The 2001 outbreak that occurred in the UK had severe and long-lasting social and mental health impacts and impacted other sectors, including tourism, education and businesses that were not related to agriculture. The impact to South Australia will still be devastating, even if an outbreak occurs in remote northern Australia. It will still result in immediate loss of international markets, and Australia will need to attempt to negotiate an international zoning arrangement, which will require significant effort to support the required movement controls and proof-of-freedom surveillance to support our proposed zones.

PIRSA will be working closely with our state peak industry bodies and nationally through working groups to contribute to both national and state preparedness activities. PIRSA's key areas of activity for preparedness will be enhanced surveillance to ensure early detection of disease, and planning to ensure a rapid and effective response should detection of this disease occur in Australia. This will include a communication strategy to complement the national efforts being undertaken.

Many of the preparedness activities being undertaken currently for a lumpy skin disease outbreak in Indonesia will address the threat of foot-and-mouth disease. An industry task force has been established to work on preparedness activities. The resourcing required will be extensive, and it is expected that foot-and-mouth disease preparedness and costings will be raised at national forums.