School holiday plea: Lib pollie and ex-vet calls for FMD boost at Adelaide Airport today

Riverland-based state Liberal politician and former veterinarian, Dr Nicola Centofanti, says today’s influx of people at the Adelaide Airport are a “ticking timebomb” for foot and mouth disease (FMD).

Ms Centofanti and the state opposition are calling for additional biosecurity officers to be stationed at the airport today as fears grow over FMD potentially getting into South Australia “which would have devastating consequences for the economy, jobs and cost of living”

“An urgent biosecurity staffing boost would allow for the luggage of every traveller from Indonesia to be individually inspected, creating an extra ring of protection for SA’s livestock industry while Labor governments sluggishly roll out disinfectant mats,” Ms Centofanti said this morning.

Ms Centofanti, the opposition spokesperson for primary industries, said Adelaide Airport would be swarming with returning travellers today and a widespread outbreak of FMD would have devastating consequences for the Australian industry, posing an estimated $80bn threat to the economy, risking jobs and further adding to the current cost of living crisis.

She said urgent, co-ordinated, and comprehensive action from both the state and federal Labor governments was needed now.

“We are dealing with a potential catastrophe right on our doorstep, yet we are seeing no sense of urgency from the Malinauskas Labor government,” Ms Centofanti said.

“This is a very real threat, with fragments of foot and mouth disease discovered in an undeclared beef product at Adelaide Airport this past week sounding alarm bells for the livestock industry and everyone who enjoys our world-class produce.

“As a veterinarian just the mention of ‘foot and mouth disease’ creates an intense feeling of fear, a reaction that is shared by so many South Australian farmers.

“With still no confirmation on exactly when sanitising foot mats will be arriving at our airport, mobilising extra biosecurity officers will ensure passengers from Indonesia will be screened properly, reducing the risk of this devastating disease reaching our farms.

“We’ve been calling on the Malinauskas Labor government to take action for weeks, but so far they’ve been MIA.

“FMD is spreading like wildfire in Indonesia, so the Malinauskas Labor government must work quickly and productively with their Canberra colleagues to stand up for South Australian farmers and make sure this disease is kept out of our country.

“Today, many South Australian families will be returning home to Adelaide as school holidays come to a close – I sincerely hope our government hasn’t left it too late to introduce stricter biosecurity measure.”

In a media release issued on July 15, Minister for Primary Industries and Regions, Clare Scriven, said state government and PIRSA were “working closely with the federal government, interstate counterparts and the local livestock industry, to ensure South Australia stays free from FMD”.

Ms Scriven said it was imperative that people who have been in contact with animals in infected areas such as Indonesia, do not visit Australian farms or handle livestock for at least seven days after returning to Australia.

“Travellers, farmers, governments and the general public alike have a shared responsibility in preventing harmful pests and diseases from entering Australia,” she said.