A new emergency taskforce is to be established to rapidly respond to outbreaks of dangerous animal diseases in Victoria.
Announcing the Emergency Animal Disease Taskforce, Minister for Agriculture, Gayle Tierney said the Taskforce would plan for any future outbreaks with a focus on bolstering the workforce of Agriculture Victoria to manage the potential social, economic and environmental threat of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
“Risk assessment and preparedness is key in ensuring we’re best placed to respond if there is a positive detection in livestock in Victoria,” Ms Tierney said.
She said the Taskforce would be co-chaired by Chief Executive of Agriculture Victoria, Matt Lowe and the Emergency Management Commissioner Andrew Crisp, in line with the State Emergency Management Plan.
Ms Tierney said the new Taskforce would take advice from Victoria Chief Vet, Graeme Cooke.
“Government is working in partnership with the Commonwealth, doing everything it can to keep Australia FMD-free and more than 300 dedicated Agriculture Victoria biosecurity staff are currently undertaking FMD-specific training, scenario planning, and emergency exercises,” the Minister said.
“The most significant risk of entry of FMD into Australia is through illegal meat and dairy products infected with the FMD virus being fed to pigs,” she said.
“Biosecurity measures on farms are commonplace in Victoria, and Agriculture Victoria will continue to support farmers and ensure appropriate individual plans are in place.”
Commenting on the new Taskforce, Dr Cooke said FMD was not yet in Australia and “we all need to keep it that way by having robust measures protecting Australia’s border”
“However, it is necessary to have plans in place which continue to be worked on in case they are ever needed,” Dr Cooke said.
