Tuesday, 14 May 2024

Zoonotic diseases

Georgie PURCELL (Northern Victoria) (20:22): (880) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Agriculture, and the action I seek is for her to investigate what livestock management and containment conditions can be improved to prevent the spread of zoonotic diseases. This government loves to blame animal activists for biosecurity risks, despite there being no record at all of any biosecurity harms at the hands of activists across the country. Meanwhile, the deadly and severely infectious disease anthrax, caused by spore-forming bacteria, has been plaguing cattle on a property in Shepparton. This disease can cause death within hours of contact, tying the fate of several cows on the farm whose carcasses were later burnt onsite. Anthrax has the potential to spread to humans through contact with an affected animal. Those at the greatest risk are the farmers and the knackery workers handling dead livestock. It is also possible to be infected with anthrax by eating contaminated products from animals that died from it. This can very quickly become a dangerous public health issue, but it was only after an outbreak had been detected that the remaining cows on the farm received an anthrax vaccination. It is not clear what if any preventative measures were in place to protect both cows and consumers.

I and many scientists, veterinarians and researchers across the globe have tirelessly warned governments of the biosecurity threats inherent in animal agriculture, particularly those in intensive factory farming facilities where animals are kept in extreme close confinement and in high-density stocking. Often they are covered in their own faeces whilst facing endless abuse. We have experienced COVID-19, avian flu, swine flu, foot-and-mouth disease and many other zoonotic diseases, but this government continues to ignore the risk and indeed the very presence of zoonotic diseases in this state. Nearly all cases of anthrax in Victoria have been seen in livestock. Not our pets, who we grant the freedom of a healthy and enriching life, but livestock who are kept in harrowing conditions are catching this disease. Another outbreak of anthrax was found near Swan Hill in 2022, resulting in the death of multiple sheep.

It is troubling to imagine how many unexplained and unreported livestock deaths there might be, and I hope the minister will commit to investigating what changes to the living conditions of animals can be made to prevent anthrax and zoonotic diseases occurring on farms in Victoria.