New biosecurity taskforce to test Australia’s preparedness for foot-and-mouth disease

Scenario-based exercises' to be run over coming weeks to identify gaps in efforts to keep out deadly livestock disease

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A new biosecurity taskforce will examine Australia's preparation for foot-and-mouth disease, as the federal government stepped up efforts to block the devastating livestock virus from entering the country.

The Australian Defence Force, Australian Border Force, agriculture and emergency management officials will run biosecurity exercises over coming weeks, looking for holes in Australia's plan to combat foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), as well as lumpy skin disease.

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