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All federal ministers urged to understand the importance of the defending agricultural industry from foot and mouth disease

Darren Chester urges the ministers to communicate with the public clearly on how they prepare to keep the Australians safe from any foot and mouth disease outbreak

By news@gippsland - 1st August 2022 - Back to News

I think it's important to start the 47th Parliament on a positive note. I want to thank the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry for organising a briefing just moments ago in relation to foot-and-mouth disease. In the order of 100 MPs and staff attended that briefing, which reflects the concern across the parliament, across the chambers in relation to the crisis which is developing to our north.

Across regional Australia, people are extremely anxious about this biosecurity crisis for our northern neighbours

Issue above politics

As the member for Wright said earlier, the social and the economic impact of such an incursion into home soil here in Australia would be absolutely devastating for our regional areas. Our trade reputation would be trashed.

This is an issue which has to be above politics in this place. I urge all ministers - all ministers - in this place to understand the importance of this issue, even if it's not in your portfolio. I know you have a lot of important matters in front of you.

Keeping people safe

This issue is critical. You have to communicate with the Australian public more clearly on what you're doing and what additional steps you're prepared to take to keep us safe. Australians want reassurance. They want to know we're doing everything we possibly can to stop an incursion into our home soil.

If more needs to be done, everything must be on the table. If the Indonesians need more support, we have to provide it. It's much better to keep the disease away from Australian soil than to try and mitigate once it arrives. I urge the Prime Minister to consider forming a bipartisan task force to work together, to use the experience from across this chamber, to make sure we keep Australia safe.

Pictures from Darren Chester MP Facebook page.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com