Hon DAMIEN O'CONNOR (Minister for Biosecurity): New Zealand's world-first effort to eradicate the cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis has made significant progress. Three years to the day since it was first detected in New Zealand, there have been 250 properties infected by the disease, with all but four now clear of it. As we have with our response to COVID-19, this Government showed leadership, made a tough decision, went hard, and went early. This Government made the decision to put $880 million into eradication, because we back our primary sector. It was estimated that allowing the disease to spread could have caused $1.3 billion in economic losses to the sector in the first 10 years alone. As we have with COVID, we've been guided by the best science and a technical advisory group made up by world experts. Almost 2½ years into the 10-year effort, I'm pleased by the progress we've made. Our farming communities should be really proud of their efforts; this Government is certainly very proud of them. 