Holidaymakers returning from Indonesia say there was little scrutiny as they passed through customs on Saturday, despite tough new biosecurity rules to thwart foot and mouth disease coming into force overnight. | Ash_McMillan
Biosecurity zones were introduced in Australian customs from midnight to stop an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Indonesia from reaching our shores.
The changes were announced after Agriculture Minister Murray Watt learned some travellers had attempted to evade screening. People flying would have to clean their shoes and walk over sanitation mats – the toughest biosecurity rules ever introduced at Australian airports. Georgie Allen and Sean Holroyd, from Geelong, said there was no extra information given to them about the virus from customs officers on Saturday morning.
“It’s excellent to see travellers following the advice and throwing away or thoroughly cleaning their shoes before returning to Australia,” he said.“The Albanese government is taking the Indonesian [foot and mouth disease] outbreak seriously, and those who choose to travel need to do the same.” Comopolous said she’d kept abreast of the increasing vigilance around foot and mouth disease at home, washing all her shoes before getting on the Bali flight.Credit:“We were asked on the plane to make sure we filled out the forms correctly. We just ticked all the boxes to make sure we were in the right place if they wanted to speak to us.”
“People need to know and understand that this has the possibility of being very serious, but we’re very well prepared for it,” she said.“Our Agriculture Victoria team are working with our farming communities, and they know what they have to do. Animal biosecurity is their bread and butter.
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