Indonesia has become the latest country to confirm an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) and there are fears that it could make its way to Australian shores.
The disease has ravaged the pork industry globally, with more than a quarter of the world’s pig population wiped out this year.
Last week, Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie announced a $66 million package for more frontline detection services at the borders.
This includes adding more sniffer dogs, biosecurity officers and X-ray machines and warning travellers to Asia not to bring back food and footwear that may have been exposed to the disease.
However, a biosecurity levy announced in the 2018 budget is being abandoned, with the government to spend the next year consulting on a new model.
An outbreak of the disease, which kills about 80 per cent of the pigs it infects, could decimate Australia’s $5 billion pork industry.
Herds across Europe and Asia have been crushed, with China – the world’s biggest consumer of pork – copping heavy losses.
Today, we’re asking if you think the measures will go far enough to prevent an outbreak in Australia?
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