“I fully recognise the very significant risk to the Australian agricultural industry of foot and mouth and other diseases and that Australia needs to do everything required to protect its stock and important agricultural industry.  This disease entering Australia would have a devastating impact on an industry that is a vital contributor to the Australian economy and integral to our future food security.  We must do everything possible to prevent it reaching our shores.

While this includes taking all preventatives measures at our airports and northern ports for travellers and collaboratively offering assistance to our neighbours as they try to eradicates this and other diseases, we must continuously consider all preventative measures, including whether we need to restrict any travel to and from those countries with outbreaks of these diseases that pose a high risk to our valuable industry, and our animals.“