Senator Murray Watt is not the only politician doing the media round this morning.
Former Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce has also appeared on television for breakfast to argue that the Albanian government is not doing enough in terms of foot-and-mouth disease.
Former Minister of Agriculture Barnaby Joyce. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Here’s what the former Nationals leader told Sunrise:
It is not [doing enough]. The other day I was listening [Environment Minister] Tanya Plibersek at the National Press Club and has not talked about it [foot and mouth disease] once. They seem to be unaware of the ramifications of this, which is terrifying people in rural areas.
What if it enters the population of wild pigs, wild goats? What happens when you go into those hills? What happens then? Kangaroos can grab it and move it.
[The attitude at the moment in regards to finding viral fragments] it’s like finding a dead mouse under the fridge and saying it’s the only one. No, no. This is what is dead. Let’s look for what’s alive.
During his previous appearance on ABC TV, Watt said that if a live version of the virus is detected in Australia, there will be an immediate three-day stop for livestock movements “to try to control where the virus is going.” [is] first discovered ”.
“There is a comprehensive plan that has been developed over several years between the federal and state governments on how we handle outbreaks,” he said.
“There is [also] obviously compensation schemes are put in place [for affected industries]. ”