Nationals Member for Eastern Victoria Melina Bath is encouraging livestock producers to update their farm biosecurity management plans to better protect their properties from a potential foot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreak.
Ms Bath said the FMD outbreak in Indonesia was causing serious concern for farmers and the wider community.
“Every effort must be undertaken by all levels of government to stop the spread of FMD, but it’s also important for our farmers to utilise their farm entry for disease control and the community to understand the risks,” Ms Bath said.
“The economic value of agriculture to the Victorian economy is $17.8 billion which is almost one third of Australia’s total agricultural value – an outbreak of disease would have devastating consequences on the animal welfare, food security and the economy.
“I am encouraging farmers to complete a biosecurity management plan if they haven’t already done so to minimise risk to animal welfare, their livelihood and food security.”
She said a robust biosecurity management plan should contain measures to identify, prevent, eliminate or minimise the biosecurity impacts relating to livestock.
“An important part of the plan includes visual signage on farm entry points about unauthorised farm trespass and informs authorised visitors they are entering a biosecurity zone,” Ms Bath said.
“Our food and fibre producers can’t afford the comprehensive trade restrictions and the strict isolation protocols that would be enforced if an outbreak occurred.”
New laws saw on the spot fines introduced for farm biosecurity breaches came into force on 1 July after Ms Bath led the fight to fix farm trespass laws in Victoria.
She said the while new farm trespass laws are not the cure, they add an additional layer of protection to help farmers keep disease out their properties.
“The current FMD risk highlights the real need for Victoria to have legislation and penalties in place to protect biosecurity and deter any unlawful entry on our farms,” she said.
“Biosecurity plans make people think twice before entering a farm unlawfully or without permission.
“Every effort must be undertaken to fortify Victoria from FMD, support our farmers and protect our livestock industry.”
For further information on developing a farm biosecurity management plan visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity
