This is the first in a regular series of articles to appear on Beef Central from the Northern Australia Coordination Network  focusing on biosecurity and Emergency Animal Disease (EAD) prevention and preparedness across the northern Australia livestock industry. Beef Central is pleased to be able to support the work of the NACN and to help provide awareness about Australia’s priority EADs and the importance of biosecurity planning, spreading the message that biosecurity is everyone’s business.

Welcome to the first NACN Biosecurity Brief

Protecting Australia from the top

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and lumpy skin disease (LSD) are priority EADs with potential to have devastating impacts on the Australian livestock industry.

The effects of an incursion would be widespread, affecting our livestock health and welfare, environment, supply chain, market access and economy.

A large multi-state FMD outbreak for example, has an estimated economic impact of $80 billion over 10 years.  For LSD, market access losses alone are estimated at $7.39 billion.

Australia has a robust biosecurity system with structured disease surveillance programs and nationally agreed disease response arrangements. However, with northern Australia at the forefront of biosecurity threats and a significant risk pathway for EAD incursions, disease preparedness capacity and capability across the north is critical.

The Northern Australian Coordination Network (NACN) is an initiative that brings together the Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments with key industry partners, to further develop our capabilities to protect Australia from EADs. NACN’s core activities include training and awareness, surveillance and early detection, and biosecurity planning, with an initial focus on LSD and FMD.

Increasing EAD awareness and preparedness across northern Australia requires a unique approach to communication and engagement to reach the broad range of stakeholders operating in isolated and remote regions. This is being done through face-to-face engagement via station visits and presentations at major industry events and online through social media platforms and virtual presentations. Existing resources and networks are also being utilised and shared to avoid duplication of effort.

NACN will also test disease response management protocols through scenario-based exercises, exploring innovative solutions to northern disease surveillance, and facilitating industry leadership and engagement activities.

NACN’s activities will play a crucial role in safeguarding Australia from the devastating impacts of EADs, maintaining market access, and trading partner confidence in Australia’s livestock sector.

Reach out to your local NACN industry partner organisations; AgForce (Qld), Northern Territory Cattlemen’s Association (NT) or the Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association (WA) if you are interested in being involved in any NACN training and awareness activities.

Remember to Look, Report and Protect and if you see unusual signs in livestock, please contact the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

Biosecurity is everyone’s business.