Mrs STONE —My question is addressed to the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy. As the minister is aware, there is currently an outbreak of anthrax, the stock disease, in the Goulburn Valley. This outbreak is of unusual duration and intensity. What is this government doing to ensure that both domestic and export markets are reassured of the safety of all products processed from this area?

Mr ANDERSON —I thank the honourable member for her question and recognise the very real interest that she has in this matter. Australian meat and dairy products are produced under systems of world-class standards, which maximise both quality and safety for our customers—a matter that I have spoken on sometimes in this House. In the case of anthrax in a small area of northern Victoria, stringent controls have been implemented, including property quarantine and vaccination of cattle.

It should be said that Australia has a national control system for animals which enjoys very strong respect across all of our export markets. This has been reinforced directly by senior Australian personnel to our key markets and supported by assurances from my colleague the Minister for Health and Family Services and me. Further to this, yesterday I released a joint statement with the Victorian Deputy Premier, Pat McNamara, carrying endorsement from 10 leading industry and government authorities. There has been no perceptible impact on trade of dairy products, as a result of the careful and detailed processes followed by industry, the Victorian government and the Commonwealth government. I can assure the honourable member that the government is working closely with industry bodies to ensure that the trade is kept fully briefed and across all relevant issues. I commend the dedicated and effective work of all those involved, which has ensured that neither our export nor domestic markets have been closed.