The Andrews Labor Government is investing more to safeguard our livestock sector and to ensure Victoria is prepared for any biosecurity risk from emergency animal disease (EAD).
The Labor Government will deliver an additional $23 million package to ensure we can rapidly respond to any emergency animal disease outbreak.
Funding will go towards the recruitment of biosecurity experts to undertake key planning, field-based operational roles and provide training to a workforce from across government and industry in the event of an outbreak.
It will also provide tailored industry engagement to build on industries’ ability to manage biosecurity risks and contribute to a response.
The Labor Government will also purchase automated diagnostic equipment that will fast-track foot-and-mouth disease sample testing, enhanced data management systems and essential tools such as livestock scanners and sensors at livestock accumulation points.
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Funding will be provided to the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) to support a response and to reduce environmental risks associated with a possible outbreak.
This work will build on Agriculture Victoria’s nation-leading biosecurity efforts such as the mandatory electronic National Livestock Identification System (NLIS) for sheep and goats that supports rapid traceability, which is critical in a livestock biosecurity response.
This $23 million package builds on the $10 million investment made in August for portable sample testing, mobile incident centers, IT system upgrades, specialist training materials, and the preparedness work of the Emergency Animal Disease Taskforce, which was established by the Labor Government earlier this year.
