Jamie Mackay (left) interviews Damien O'Connor at Southern Field Days. Photo / Supplied
Jamie Mackay (left) interviews Damien O'Connor at Southern Field Days. Photo / Supplied
Farmers with properties affected by cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis are concerned with a lack of clarity around compensation.
Minister for Agriculture Damien O'Connor spoke to The Country at Southern Field Days to try and address the frustration and uncertainty surrounding compensation.
O'Connor says farmers have not been given final remunerationyet as there "a process to go through," but he has been pushing for interim compensation, saying "a couple of big cheques have been rolling out."
"This is a big challenge because we haven't had anything like this before."
Resources for the eradication of Mycoplasma bovis have been "ramped up," says O'Connor, especially with the potential for transmission with events such as Gypsy Day coming up (where dairy farmers move their stock from farm to farm).
Also in today's interview: Damien O'Connor denies rumours that he had to look up Google to prepare for his Southern Field Days speed shearing effort today.
