Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says China shouldn’t use foot and mouth disease as an excuse to stop importing Australian beef.
Australia is free of the contageous animal virus but remains on high-alert given outbreaks in Indonesia and its spread into Bali, a popular tourist destination for Australians.
“We’re acting on the foot and mouth disease, we’ve acted very strongly,” Mr Albanese told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
“There’s no indication that it (biosecurity) has not been successful here in Australia.”
The prime minister’s assurance follows a Chinese media outlet reporting Beijing had banned Australian beef imports over foot and mouth fears, while other outlets branded the report as incorrect.
Mr Albanese again called on China to remove trade sanctions against a range of Australian products.
“There is no justification for any of the economic sanctions that have been put in,” he said.
“They are contrary to both the spirit and the detail that are there in the trade agreements that we have with China and the sanctions should be withdrawn.”
Mr Albanese didn’t directly address whether Australia should brace for further Chinese sanctions or tariffs following Canberra’s support for Taiwan and freedom of navigation exercises in the Taiwan Strait as tensions escalate.
“We should have good relations and co-operate with China wherever we can. But we will stand up for Australian interests where we must,” he said.
