New South Wales is looking towards a world first as the state government invests in creating the first synthetic vaccine for Foot and Mouth Disease and Lumpy Skin in the latest boost to statewide biosecurity. 

Australia and NSW has remained on high alert from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) from nearby Indonesia for over a month, after traces of the disease were found in an Adelaide airport. 

In a bid to keep ramping up protections against the disease that could have an $80 billion on the across Australia, the NSW Government announced a $65 million package to bolster biosecurity measures, with the goal to develop mRNA synthetic vaccines for FMD and Lumpy Skin. 



NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole said the vaccine would be a game changer for farmers. 

“Current FMD vaccines are made using the virus itself, meaning even vaccinated animals have to be destroyed for Australia to regain our FMD-free status following an outbreak,” Mr Toole said. 

An FMD-free status means that Australia has continued access to premium international markets. 

“The world is also yet to develop a killed or synthetic vaccine for Lumpy Skin, so having these two mRNA vaccines in our arsenal should these diseases reach our shores would give us a clear edge on the world stage,” Mr Toole said. 

NSW Farmers Biosecurity Chair Ian McColl said that the vaccine investment is welcome, but more will need to be done until then.

“If they reach our shores we must be prepared to deal with them swiftly and decisively, because an FMD outbreak could potentially cost up to $18 million a day just here in NSW alone,” Mr McColl said. 

As part of the biosecurity boost, $55.8 million was committed to practical, on-ground biosecurity risk mitigation and response preparedness activities. 

This includes funding to expand a trained response workforce of at least 2,000 experts, animal control activities such as culling of feral pigs and deer, enhanced surveillance technology and awareness campaigns to educate livestock owners, handlers and the community. 

"It's great to see a focus on pest animal control as well as on diseases, and practical on-the-ground resources for other biosecurity concerns,” Mr McColl said.

"NSW Farmers has long called for long-term, sustainable funding for our biosecurity system with clear roles and responsibilities for public and private sector," he said. 

The investment brings the total biosecurity funding in NSW to $229 million - the largest spend on exotic pest and disease control by a single jurisdiction in Australia. 

So far, Australia remains free of FMD, although biosecurity measures remain high for people returning from Indonesia.