Senator Kilgariff asked the Minister representing the Minister for Primary Industry, upon notice, on 20 November 1 979:

(   1 ) Is the Government satisfied with the progress in its program for the eradication of bovine brucellosis in Australia, and is it anticipated that this program will be completed by 1 984 as planned.

(2)   What areas of Australia are still infected, and, if brucellosis has not been eradicated by 1 984, what effect, if any, will it make on the export of beef to the United States market, in respect of: (a) individual States of Australia, and (b) Australia as a whole.

(3)   What restrictions are there on stock movements from areas presently affected to market or to other areas for agistment.

(4)   What nations are still affected by bovine brucellosis, and when is it expected that these countries will be declared brucellosis free.

Senator Webster - The Minister for Primary Industry has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(   I ) Yes, the Government is satisfied with the progress in the National Brucellosis Eradication Campaign. All States are well on target and in fact, it is anticipated that the interim objective of nationwide Provisional Freedom (ie 2 infected cows per 1,000 cows) by 1984, will be achieved earlier. However, the prime objective, viz complete eradication, will take some years longer. At this stage, no firm completion date can be nominated.

(2)   Tasmania is the only brucellosis 'Free' State in Australia. All other States have residual brucellosis infection. In the United States, at 31 January 1979, only four herds in every thousand remained brucellosis infected. (7,120 infected herds out of 1 .8 million herds.) In view of the steady progress in brucellosis eradication in Australia and the fact that we are keeping pace with similar programs in our market countries we do not anticipate any real difficulties in retaining access to important markets.

(3)   Movement restrictions are the responsibility of the individual States and although national guidelines are followed, the actual restrictions applying vary from State to State. Generally speaking, cattle going direct to slaughter may move without test; testing requirements for agisted cattle vary depending on the disease state of the property of origin. Standard Definitions and Rules for the National Brucellosis and Tuberculosis Eradication Campaign set out these guidelines and copies are available from the Bureau of Animal Health.

(4)   Of our major market outlets, Japan, Korea and many countries in Europe are free of brucellosis. The USA and Canada have residual levels of brucellosis and Middle East countries have a variable level of infection. Timetables for the eventual eradication of the disease in these countries are not available.