Australia is now armed with a formal biosecurity strategy amid what the federal government warns is a heightened threat posed by climate change.
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Agriculture and Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt says the blueprint will provide clear direction to ensure the nation can meet the challenges of the next decade and beyond.
"One of the reasons we face this ever growing threat of exotic pests and disease is our changing climate," he said in launching the plan at the National Press Club in Canberra on Tuesday.
"Our farmers are on the front line of climate change, experiencing the harsh cycle of extreme drought and extreme rainfall."
As such, they have been part of the solution rather than the problem, Senator Watt says.
"For years, regional Australia, and agriculture in particular, has been described in some quarters as a handbrake on climate action," he said.
"That is simply not true."
Further, he pledged to be "the minister that works with industry, with workers and rural communities to tackle climate change, to reduce emissions, to build resilience".
Agriculture's major challenges included the threat of foot and mouth and lumpy skin disease, which had earlier this year spread to Indonesia, along with varroa mite and Xylella, Senator Watt told his audience.
He said the strategy, which had been in development for the past year, was the strongest biosecurity response in the nation's history and a first.
However the opposition quickly took him to task over the claim.
"The previous coalition government started work on this strategy in October 2021 and effectively completed it before the federal election in May this year," Nationals leader David Littleproud said.
"So this 'national first' has been none of the doing of the current government."
Mr Littleproud also took a swipe at Senator Watt's announcement of an additional $10 million for a million foot and mouth vaccines along with technical support for Indonesia.
"They are yet to administer a single one of them," he said.
The launch of the biosecurity strategy follows the announcement of a new taskforce aiming to ensure Australia can respond quickly to threats, which is due to report to government next month.
National Farmers Federation President Fiona Simson says the plan will be critical in protecting the nation's farms.
"This strategy couldn't come at a more critical time," she said.
"Australia is under siege from a litany of serious pests and diseases.
"A serious biosecurity breach could unravel our plan to become Australia's next $100 billion industry. A single breach could devastate our economy, our food system and our natural environment."
Invasive species council head Andrew Cox says the spirit of collaboration that helped create the strategy would be fundamental to withstanding looming challenges.
Vets for Climate Action's Dr Helen Scott-Orr, who is also a former inspector-general of biosecurity, said it's important climate change risks were factored into the plan as they increase the likelihood of more disease.
Australian Associated Press
