Peter Dutton says the border with Indonesia should be shut to protect against foot and mouth disease, but experts say it wouldn’t remove the risk, while harming trade and relations.
Industry leaders and experts have rejected calls from across the Coalition to stop the risk of foot and mouth disease devastating Australia’s livestock industry by closing the border with Indonesia, arguing such a move wouldn’t remove risks but would damage the economy and foreign relations.
Last week more than 100 people gathered in Colac, in south-west Victoria, for the Rally for a Response event demanding the border be closed to tourists for 120 days. Farmers drove tractors through town to attract attention to their cause. “In fact, the opposition’s desperation to score political points is already impacting our agricultural trade, with industry reporting concern from customers overseas.”
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