Biosecurity fears rise with illegal boat arrivals, calling for increased naval patrols in Australia

The political storm over illegal boat arrivals has changed tact, with a peak farming body calling for increased defence patrols in northern waters to safeguard against a biosecurity breach that could shut down the nation's livestock industries. The issue was also raised in a closed-door meeting between three peak farming groups and Agriculture Minister Murray Watt in Perth earlier this week. Pastoralists and Graziers' Association of Western Australia president Tony Seabrook told AGM Agri that it was crucial to the future of an Australian livestock industry projected to have a production value of $31 billion in 2023-24 that "we have to find every boat, not some of them." "There is clearly a threat to the livestock industry in Australia from illegal immigrants coming into this country from a nation that has Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease," he said. "I don't think anyone has gotten on to the real story yet - the unbelievable risk to our meat industry across the entire ...