Council wrote to the Federal and State Governments in late July seeking clarity on several points relating to border protection and readiness for an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Australia.
In letters to the Hon. Murray Watt, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Hon. Gayle Tierney, Minister for Agriculture, Training and Skills and Higher Education, Council highlighted the region as one of the densest populations of broadacre livestock farming in the world, with more than 1 million lambs, 2.3 million sheep and 120,000 head of beef cattle. Hamilton Regional Livestock Exchange is also one of the largest saleyards in Australia based on annual throughput numbers so an outbreak would undoubtedly have a widespread and devastating impact to our local agricultural and farming sectors.
Council has asked Ministers to address key questions in relation to roles and responsibilities and relevant support options. The protection of the industry is paramount to not only the wellbeing of our community, but also the health of our national economy.
Click here to read the letters in full.
The Hon. Gayle Tierney MP
The Hon. Murray Watt MP