Senator WALSH (Victoria) (15:18): I thank the opposition for their questions to Senator Watt on the very serious foot-and-mouth outbreak in Indonesia. The Albanese government is taking this threat extremely seriously, very seriously, just as Australian travellers are. What we are doing is taking the very best advice on managing this risk, and the very best advice on protecting Australia's trade as well. We're very grateful to those travellers who understand the seriousness of the disease and are complying with the measures that we're putting in place. We're very grateful to Australians for understanding the seriousness of this disease, which is more than we can say about those on the opposition benches. Those on the opposition benches have demonstrated today that they have been infected with something themselves, and that is a dose of absolute hysteria on this issue. They have been infected with a dose of confected hysteria on this issue. Let's talk about the opposition's response to this issue. We've had the opposition leader, Mr Dutton, calling for the borders to shut. We've had the Leader of The Nationals, Mr Littleproud, immediately back away from that call. We've had the former Nationals leader—remember him—Mr Joyce, calling for the borders to be closed. And, of course, we've had Senator McKenzie wanting to wash people's feet—and making that offer again today. Senator McKenzie interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, restrain yourself. Senator WALSH: While the government really does appreciate your new-found Jesus complex, Senator McKenzie— Senator McKenzie interjecting— Senator WALSH: Your new-found Jesus complex is much appreciated, but the opposition cannot decide what you are even calling for. Senator McKenzie interjecting— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator McKenzie, I'm not enjoying your commentary. Senator WALSH: These hysterical calls, these confused calls, to shut the borders, to open the borders and to wash people's feet are the things that are damaging our response to this crisis right now. Calls to shut the border are damaging Australia's agricultural reputation. The unnecessary hysteria that those on the opposition benches are fermenting will do nothing but damage the international trade that you are saying that you want to protect. As it stands in Australia today, we have no evidence at all that the virus is out in Australia. Your response affects our international trade if people think that we do have this disease. So your hysteria is helping no-one. What we do know is that the disease is evident across many countries—and the opposition is not calling for borders to be shut to them. So, once again, what you are doing is playing politics rather than listening to the experts. I also thank the opposition for their questions on our policy to abolish the ABCC, the absolutely discredited ABCC, and their questions about our consultations with business and with unions on this decision. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Birmingham, on a point of order? Senator Birmin gham: The question before the chair is purely to take note of the answers to Senator Watt in relation to foot-and-mouth disease. The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: Senator Walsh, the motion before us didn't involve that question and that answer. So it somewhat restrains you. Senator WALSH: What I heard Senator Scarr say— The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The motion to take note didn't include that question and answer. Senator WALSH: I thought it included questions to Senator Watt. That is what I heard. The DEPUTY PRE SIDENT: No, it was specific to the particular ones, as I understand it, in relation to foot-and-mouth disease. Senator WALSH: It is disappointing not to be able to talk about the discredited organisation that is the ABCC. But this gives me an opportunity to talk a little bit more about the incredibly impressive and powerful response that the Australian government, under the leadership of the minister, Senator Watt, have put in place to deal with this outbreak in Indonesia. We are taking this outbreak very seriously. We are managing the risk of foot-and-mouth disease across our shores, and we are doing that with the biggest biosecurity package that has ever been introduced in this country. We are installing sanitation foot mats in international and domestic airports and we're monitoring travellers from high-risk areas. There are thousands of passengers being assessed in Melbourne and in other major cities every day. We are delivering vaccines. As Minister Watt explained, those vaccines are expected to arrive in August. We are increasing screening to monitor undeclared meat products. This is a serious biosecurity issue for Australia. It's one that we are taking seriously, and the response is not helped by those on the opposition benches.