The Indonesian government has suspended imports of live cattle from four Australian export facilities, after the detection of the virus lumpy skin disease in livestock shipped from Australia. Australia is free from the disease, but if it is detected here, it could wipe more than $7 billion from the economy, disrupting beef exports.
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00:00 We've learned over the weekend that a small number of cattle that were shipped from Australia
00:07 to Indonesia have tested positive, according to the Indonesian government, for the disease
00:12 lumpy skin. It's important to note that this disease poses no risk to humans, but would
00:19 certainly have significant ramifications for Australia's trade of not just live cattle,
00:25 but all meat and beef exports. And that's not just to Indonesia, but to every country
00:30 where we currently now trade our beef products. So this is certainly quite a shock to the
00:36 Australian government. This disease has never been found in Australia and there are significant
00:43 concerns for the trade.
00:44 What happens now then, Kath?
00:46 Well, the Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, has issued a notice to industry saying that
00:52 authorities are working around the clock. He first became aware of this issue late on
00:57 Friday and since that time has had several briefings with industry, with state ministers
01:03 and chief veterinary officers, as well as Australia's ambassador to Indonesia. And more
01:09 testing will continue, but he remains adamant Australia is free from this disease and is
01:14 keen to point out too that while four export facilities have been suspended from trade
01:20 with Indonesia at the moment, there are 28 facilities that can and do continue to trade
01:25 to Indonesia.
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