Mornings host Liam Bartlett has implored Agriculture Minister Murray Watt to take the foot and mouth threat to Australia’s $27 billion livestock industry seriously.

After giving foot baths the cold shoulder on 6PR Mornings last Friday, Watt changed tune somewhat on Wednesday, announcing new sanitation foot mats to be installed at all Australian airports, starting with Darwin and Cairns this week, to help combat the rising threat.

“Honestly, are we doing everything we can to keep foot and mouth out of Australia?” Bartlett asked, before suggesting the federal government was “dragging its feet” over the issue, which could cost the livestock industry $80 billion if it worsened.

Viral fragments of foot and mouth, which people can carry on their shoes, have been detected in pork and beef products coming into Australia from China and Indonesia, raising fears the highly infectious disease could break out in Australia for the first time in more than a century.

Tap PLAY 👇 to hear the Minister change tune on the idea