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Colac Community Rallies

28th July, 2022

Farmers, stakeholders and concerned community members rallied in Colac's Memorial Square on Wednesday along with Polwarth MP Richard Riordan, Western Victoria MP Bev McArthur and a number of Colac Otway Shire and Corangamite Shire Councillors, concerned by the lack of biosecurity measures in place for those travelling from Indonesia.

Alvie farmer Peter Delahunty instigated the rally and together with community members put forward a motion to Senator the Hon Murray Watt Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Victoria's Minister for Agriculture Gayle Tierney MP, that would request the federal government to immediately institute a 120-day ban on all non-essential travel from Indonesia.

Within the 120 days, those concerned would like to see the federal government assist Indonesia in bringing FMD under control and increasing the financial assistance promised from $14 million to $100 million. The second requirement put forward was to increase Australia's biosecurity arrangements at all entry points and finally, the third requirement involved refining plans, control measures and responses within Australia if there were to be a foot-and-mouth outbreak within the country.

Concerned the government has acted in a reactive rather than a proactive manner, Mr Delahunty voiced his angst not only about passengers arriving via airport terminals but also about the risk of goods received via the post and in mailing centres.

The government has back-flipped on its original decision to not install sanitation foot mats in airport terminals, with the rollout of the citric acid solution commencing in Darwin and Cairns. However, Member for Western Victoria Bev McArthur expressed grave concerns about footwear and garments that are packed in luggage and brought into the country without sanitation.

The catastrophic effects of a foot-and-mouth outbreak within Australia will be felt by all, particularly in regional and rural communities with Polwarth MP Richard Riordan certain an outbreak will cause severe "economic dislocation and heartache to Victoria." 

Mr Riordan intends to raise the issue in Parliament next week during question time with the support of Liberal Leader Matthew Guy and Mrs McArthur MP.

Charles Stewart & Company have compiled a number of resources that producers and stakeholders can refer to in order to learn more as the situation in Indonesia unfolds.

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