New airport biosecurity measures introduced on Friday require travelers to clean their shoes and walk on sanitation mats when returning to Australia from Indonesia.
A $14 million assistance package has also been launched to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering Australia from Bali or other parts of Indonesia.
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A positive case of foot-and-mouth disease, which causes injuries and lameness in cattle, could shut down the $27 billion live export trade and a major outbreak could cost the industry $80 billion.
The Prime Minister said the federal government would continue to work with the Farmers’ Federation and other farming groups to tackle the “absolutely critical” problem and acknowledged the introduction of foot-and-mouth disease would have a “severe” impact on the economy .
Last week, viral fragments of the disease were detected in pork and beef products that had entered Australia from China and Indonesia.
Although the fragments were not live and did not pose a risk of transmission of the virus, farmers said it showed the disease was circulating and there was an increasing risk of the live virus being transmitted to Australia through animal products or people.
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Foot-and-mouth disease does not pose a risk to humans, but the disease can survive for up to 24 hours on shoes and clothing.
During the interview, Albanese also called for China to lift sanctions on Australian exports, including coal.
“It is in China’s interest to lift all sanctions against Australia, and it is in Australia’s interest for that to happen as well,” he said.
“I want to cooperate with China where we can, I will stand up for Australia’s interests where we have to, there is no justification for sanctions on Australian products and they should all be lifted.”
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