Farming body says border closure would 'increase' foot and mouth disease risk
A top farming body has slammed pundits and politicians "fanning the flames of fear" over foot and mouth disease.
The federal government and opposition have clashed over management of the outbreak in Indonesia, with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and former Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce this week calling for the border with Indonesia to close.
But NSW Farmers Association biosecurity chair Ian McColl said it was "disappointing" to see people using the outbreak "to further their own ends".
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Closing the border to Indonesia would be counterproductive, farming bodies say. 9News
"Farmers have argued for stronger, sustainably-funded biosecurity systems for years – this isn't something that's just happened overnight," he said.
"What Australia needs is all levels of government and all members of the community to come together and keep this disease out.
"Fanning the flames of fear will not help one little bit."
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health, FMD is endemic throughout much of Asia and in most parts of Africa and the Middle East.
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There are fears FMD could spread to Australia. Nicole McGuire
There is a risk that trade or travellers to any of these countries could bring FMD into Australia, McColl said, which was why it was so important to have strict biosecurity controls at our border.
But he said closing the border would be counterproductive.
"Last week we saw FMD fragments detected that didn't come from Bali on a tourist's thongs, they came in meat products from Asia," McColl said.
"Those people out there suggested we need to slam shut travel to Indonesia don't understand that would only give a false sense of security, which could actually increase the risk of FMD coming from elsewhere.
"We have strongly advocated for the federal government to boost screening and put foot baths at our airports, the state government has boosted biosecurity funding, now it's up to all of us to do the right thing and stop spreading fear and rumour."
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Bill Sykes is a former Nationals MP and livestock vet who oversaw the slaughter of thousands of animals in the 2001 foot and mouth disease outbreak in the UK. Jason South
The Association's comments align with the National Farmers Federation's position, though president Fiona Simson has said she would like to see "every passenger" coming through our airports screened.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt, meanwhile, today confirmed the Australian Defence Force was not currently part of any FMD contingency plan, after a UK MP's warning.
UK Conservative MP Neil Hudson was an equine vet during the last FMD outbreak in the UK, which saw millions of animals destroyed.
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Hudson told The Australian military coordination could prove crucial in case of an outbreak.
"If the outbreak spreads, you need serious logistics to control the animals and the people – don't rule out calling an emergency straight away and bringing in the army," Hudson said.
He said the UK military had helped provide water, lighting, and gravediggers.
But Watt told 2GB there were no contingency plans in place currently involving the ADF.
"We don't believe it's necessary to have the ADF involved if we do have an outbreak," he said.
"Certainly, if the view is that we need the Defence Force involved then we would activate them very quickly."
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