Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF), Media Release, 19 May 2025

The Northern Territory Government is stepping up preparedness efforts against emergency animal diseases with a managed biosecurity exercise funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Northern Australian Coordination Network (NACN) which is set to get underway tomorrow.

Australia remains free of lumpy skin disease (LSD) and foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), but it is important to be prepared.

Exercise Raintree will take place over three days from 20-22 May, with a forward control centre at a mock infected property located close to the border of NT/WA.

The mock exercise will also three State/Territory Control Centres including NT, WA and Qld operating from the Berrimah Farm Science Precinct in Darwin.

The focus of Exercise Raintree is to enhance capacity and strengthen preparedness and response capabilities for managing emergency animal disease incursions in northern Australia, including FMD and LSD.

A particular emphasis will be placed on the rapid activation and coordination of field personnel, communication systems, and information technology infrastructure in a simulated emergency response environment.

Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Rob Williams said the exercise aims to test and enhance the capacity, readiness and interoperability of government agencies and our livestock industry partners.

“Exercise Raintree is an opportunity to practice emergency animal disease response scenarios, enhance preparedness and build capacity across northern Australia,” Dr Williams said.

“The Northern Territory’s livestock sector is valued at more than $1 billion annually and an outbreak of any emergency animal disease in Australia could have severe economic and social consequences.

“While Australia is free of FMD and LSD, an FMD outbreak in Australia has been estimated to potentially cost the Australian economy more than $80 billion over 10 years.”

NACN brings together the Australian, NT, Qld and WA Governments and northern livestock industry associations to improve Australia’s surveillance and preparedness coordination.

The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries is the lead agency in the NT for handling an outbreak of an emergency animal disease, with the department working with key partners across all levels of government and industry.

For more information on animal health and diseases visit https://nt.gov.au/industry/agriculture/livestock-and-animals/animal-health-and-diseases.