YOUR SAY: Should Australia close its border to Indonesia to prevent the spread of foot and mouth disease? Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is calling on the government to block exchanges between the nations until the crisis is resolved. MORE: 9News
The federal government continues to resist a closure, a position backed by the National Farmers Federation.
Trade concerns and strict biosecurity measures have been cited as reasons to not block Australia-Indonesia exchanges.Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles defended the government's security measures after they were criticised by Nationals leader David Littleproud."We have got more biosecurity officers on the job ... we're looking putting in place the biosecurity zones around a number of our airports.
The government last week pointed out that foot in mouth outbreaks existed in other countries around the world and had done for some years, without calls for border closures or a cessation of trade.There are calls for the border to Indonesia to be closed.Former Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce also weighed in, blasting the government's stance as "negligent incompetence".
"If the risk is there, you must stop it. You must close the borders. The alternative is that there is no alternative," he told 2GB.The worst 10 airports for flight delays around the world
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