Agriculture Minister Murray Watt has announced the government is considering immediately implementing the 'strongest biosecurity response' in history to stop the spread of foot and mouth disease.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt on Friday announced the Director of Biosecurity Dr Chris Locke was going through a risk assessment to introduce new measures which have never been used by a government under Section 365 of the Biosecurity Act.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt outlined the new powers biosecurity officers could have at airports. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images Mr Watt has already instructed the biosecurity department to increase its visibility and the number of inquiries for international arrivals immediately and has asked the Director of Biosecurity to consider whether further measures were required.
“The kinds of things they allow for that aren’t currently permitted under legislation are that biosecurity officers could direct all passengers to for instance walk over these sanitation mats, hand over their shoes, comply with other requirements, it would also give us the power to install infrastructure in airports if we deemed it was necessary,” Mr Watt said.
Australia remains FMD free despite non-transmissible fragments of the disease being found in food products at Adelaide Airport and a Melbourne supermarket.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Foot-and-mouth disease fragments detected in meat imported to AustraliaViral fragments of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever have been detected in imported meat, as Australia's government introduces new measures to wash shoes at international airports.
Read more »
Watt: Government won’t take ‘drastic’ measure of closing border over FMDAgriculture Minister Murray Watt says the federal government has “no plans” to shut borders amid fears of the foot and mouth disease (FMD) reaching Australian shores.
Read more »
Coalition calls on government to improve 'very slow' response to FMDShadow trade and tourism minister Kevin Hogan has proposed two solutions to help the government stop the potentially catastrophic Foot and Mouth Disease from spreading in Australia.
Read more »
The ‘absolutely catastrophic’ devastation FMD will wreck on Australia’s economy
Read more »
Rural communities ‘fearful’ government is not taking FMD seriously
Read more »
Guardian Media Group records strongest financial results since 2008Annual revenues up by 13% to £255.8m, aided by increased contributions from online readers
Read more »