Joint media release: Strengthened protection and preparedness against bird flu

Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon Murray Watt
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP

The Albanese Government is investing to strengthen Australia’s early detection, preparedness and reporting capacity for H5 avian influenza (bird flu), while protecting captive populations of threatened species.

This funding is part of the Government’s broader $100 million investment to prepare and protect the nation against H5.

While this serious and contagious strain hasn’t yet reached Australia, it is causing mass mortalities in wildlife and significantly impacting poultry overseas.

Through the movement of migratory birds, it can significantly impact agricultural industries and wildlife. It could also cause long-term population decline in native species and may even push some to the brink of extinction.

To protect native threatened species, more than $2.8 million will be shared between 23 captive-breeding facilities, supporting more than 20 threatened species across Australia.

This is the first of two funding rounds funded by the Albanese Government and delivered by the Zoo and Aquarium Association (ZAA), in close consultation with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Facilities to benefit from the grants are:

• Adelaide Zoo
• Alice Springs Desert Park
• Caversham Wildlife Park (Whiteman, Western Australia)
• Cleland Wildlife Park (Cleland, South Australia)
• Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (Currumbin, Queensland)
• Devils@Cradle (Cradle Mountain, Tasmania)
• Featherdale Wildlife Park (Doonside, New South Wales)
• Mile Beach Captive Management Facility (Department of Natural Resources and Environment)
• Healesville Sanctuary (Badger Creek, Victoria)
• Hobart Zoo & Aquarium
• Kaarakin Black Cockatoo Conservation Centre (Martin, Western Australia)
• Melbourne Zoo
• Monarto Safari Park (Murray Bridge in South Australia)
• Moonlit Sanctuary (Pearcedale, Victoria)
• East Coast Natureworld (Bicheno, Tasmania)
• Odonata Foundation
• Perth Zoo
• Priam Psittaculture Centre
• Taronga Western Plains Zoo (Dubbo, NSW)
• Taronga Zoo (Sydney, NSW)
• Trowunna Wildlife Park (Mole Creek, Tasmania)
• Walkabout Wildlife Sanctuary (Calga, New South Wales)
• Werribee Open Range Zoo (Werribee, Victoria)

Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt will visit Taronga Zoo in Sydney today, to see how they will use their funding to help protect captive populations of two critically endangered bird species - the regent honeyeater and plains wanderer.

“Australia is very lucky not to have experienced the H5 strain that’s impacting most of the world, but we must do everything we can to prepare – including ensuring that plans are in place for some of our most at-risk species,” Minister Watt said.

“Captive breeding programs are a vital safety net for our most threatened species. They help boost wild populations, maintain genetic diversity, and give our unique wildlife a fighting chance for the future.

“As an example, some of the funding at Taronga will be used to buy personal protective equipment for staff, to reduce disease spread and preventing wild bird interactions by creating physical barriers and deterrents.

“This funding builds on the substantial investments already made by the Albanese Government in protecting and recovering threatened biodiversity.”

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins will visit the Hobart Zoo & Aquarium today, and said no government has done more to maintain Australia’s strong, resilient and adaptable biosecurity system.

“Australia remains the only continent free from H5 bird flu, which is why the Albanese Labor Government is delivering record funding to maintain our strong biosecurity, and to boost preparedness against this disease,” Minister Collins said.

“An outbreak of H5 bird flu in Australia would have a disastrous impact on the agriculture, environment and health sectors, which is why we’re further boosting our already strong biosecurity preparedness arrangements.

“I am pleased to announce that the H5 bird flu National Management Agreement is now in place, an Australian-first to ensure we take a national approach to uplifting Australia’s bird flu preparedness.

“It will support a rapid and coordinated response to manage the impacts of infected wildlife on the health of our people, animals, and the environment – and is another way the Albanese Government is delivering a stronger biosecurity system.”

Work to strengthen H5 bird flu preparedness and response capacity continues to progress, as part of funding already flowing from the Albanese Government.

This includes $7 million to Wildlife Health Australia (WHA) to support improving wildlife health intelligence and surveillance systems, enhancing early detection capabilities and supporting global and national One Health outcomes.

This investment will also support WHA to train more key frontline workers, including veterinarians, wildlife carers and wildlife managers.

In addition to this, the Government has finalised the H5 HPAI National Management Agreement with all states and territories, with this agreement now in effect to support a coordinated national response if there is an outbreak in wildlife.