Interview with Rachel Mealey, ABC AM

E&OE TRANSCRIPT  
RADIO INTERVIEW   
ABC AM  
MONDAY, 24 AUGUST 2026 

SUBJECTS: H5 bird flu 

RACHEL MEALEY, HOST: Minister, thanks for speaking to AM. 

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: Good morning and good morning to your listeners, Rachel. 

MEALEY: How concerning is this development? 

COLLINS: Well, obviously it can be distressing for many Australians, particularly those with a close connection to our land or our wildlife. But for us it's not unexpected and we should expect to see more infection in other wildlife, particularly marine mammals, in areas where there are high levels of infection in those wild birds. 

MEALEY: Do scientists know how the fur seal contracted this strain of bird flu? 

COLLINS: Well, I'm advised that at the moment the detection doesn't appear to be associated with any other sick or dead marine mammals. And the infection of this individual animal is likely to have occurred due to exposure to infected wild birds or the environment that they share. So, it was found in an area where there were a lot of other sick or dead birds. 

MEALEY: What happens from here? Will more fur seals be tested to find out the extent of infection in the herd, or can any of the herd be quarantined to prevent further spread? 

COLLINS: What we do know, sadly, is that once the H5 bird flu is spreading in the natural environment, it's not possible to avoid significant losses. And we've been very upfront with the Australian people about that. But that's why we've worked so hard to prepare. We've invested over $113 million in preparation, and $47 million of that has gone into protecting threatened species and improving habitat for them so that they will be able to get through this H5 bird flu. 

MEALEY. So, what you're saying is that the spread to the fur seals was expected by scientists who've been monitoring the outbreak? It's part of the modelling. 

COLLINS: It's certainly what we have seen and experienced overseas. Once it's in those wild birds, it does tend to go into marine mammals who are more susceptible and obviously it can go into any mammal. 

MEALEY: The Invasive Species Council says that this virus, if it spreads to Australia's sea lion population, it could be an extinction level event. Can anything be done there to prevent that? 

COLLINS: We have invested early in terms of our threatened species, and we've also obviously procured a vaccine in terms of wild birds, and we've been working with the states and territories who are prioritising their threatened species of wild birds in terms of vaccinations. 

MEALEY: Will the government commit to more funding for biodiversity programs? 

COLLINS: Well, obviously these types of biosecurity incursions that we have in Australia. There is a funding model and we have been working with the states and territories. We've also released since that first incursion, over $24.8 million now with the states and territories that we're investing with them, on top of the $113 million. But we have said we're doing everything we can do as a government. 

MEALEY: What's the news on a bird flu vaccine for mammals? How far away might that be? 

COLLINS: Well, we've been obviously monitoring that very closely. There are trials underway in North America, in California and Hawaii. And this is using a vaccine that's been developed for cattle, but there certainly is nothing commercially available. But we do continue to look at that research. 

MEALEY: And what about house pets? Should owners, maybe particularly in South Australia, be taking any special precautions? 

COLLINS: Well, what we do say is if you see sick or dead birds, don't touch them and certainly keep your pets away from any dead birds. So, our advice would be to keep an eye on your pets and keep them away from any dead birds or dead animals. I would just say we could also go to birdflu.gov.au where there is a lot of information for members of the public. 

MEALEY: Minister, thanks very much for joining AM. 

COLLINS: Thanks very much for having me.