Barnaby Joyce warns a foot and mouth outbreak would be ‘absolutely devastating’

Barnaby Joyce says a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Australia would be “absolutely devastating” and Canberra doesn’t understand how perilous the situation is.

The former Nationals leader says Australia’s response to the disease, which could devastate our livestock industry, has been too slow.

Sanitation mats are now being rolled out at international airports for travellers entering Australia from Indonesia.

He warned an outbreak wouldn’t just be a problem for farmers.

“What do you think is going to happen to your price of food in Melbourne? It’s going to go through the roof. It will be absolutely devastating,” he told Neil Mitchell.

“No more milk, no more butter, no more cheese, no more yoghurt, no more steak, no more roast, no more beef, no more lamb, no more chops, no more mutton, no more pork … all gone off the shelves.”

Mr Joyce says a foot and mouth outbreak would be far worse in Australia than in most other countries.

“We have millions and millions of wild pigs and deer,” he said.

He’s calling for a short-term ban on travel to Indonesia, and wants Australia to buy the 2000 head of cattle which are currently in Bali, destroy them and replace them.

Press PLAY below to hear Barnaby Joyce’s warning

Image: Stefan Postles/Getty Images