Doorstop in Hobart, Tasmania

E&OE TRANSCRIPT  
DOORSTOP  
HOBART
FRIDAY, 10 JULY 2026  
 
SUBJECTS: H5 bird flu; Rushy Lagoon sale

JULIE COLLINS, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FORESTRY: CSIRO lab testing has confirmed H5 bird flu in a Greater Crested Tern found in Robe, South Australia. This detection in South Australia is the first case of the H5 bird flu in an Australian seabird. Two further cases from South Australia and one from Western Australia have now been confirmed as H5 bird flu through CSIRO lab testing. This brings the total detections of H5 bird flu in Australia to 12. There is one further suspected positive from Western Australia that is still with the CSIRO lab for confirmatory testing. Our scientists are undertaking further work to establish the potential pathway that resulted in the Australian seabird’s infection. What we do know is that this is a coastal seabird that has an overlapping coastal range with migratory seabirds that have previously tested positive for H5. I have been briefed this morning by Australia’s Chief Veterinary Officer on this development, and our experts are continuing to meet to discuss the ongoing response. While this, of course, is a concerning development, it is not unexpected and is another sign that our strong biosecurity system is working. The South Australian Government, who is leading the response on the ground in South Australia, is implementing enhanced surveillance in the area where this bird was found. This will help to establish if there have been further spread of the H5 bird flu. I do want to reiterate, though, that at this time there is still no evidence of any mass mortalities due to the H5 bird flu, nor is there any evidence of spread to other animal productions or populations at this time. There is no evidence currently of any infection in our poultry or agriculture system, and there remains a low risk to human health. Our Government has been preparing for this with over $113 million invested to boost our H5 bird flu preparedness and response capability as part of our additional $2 billion biosecurity resourcing that we have delivered since coming to Government. Our response to bird flu has been both swift and coordinated. As I’ve indicated several weeks ago, our national biosecurity response arrangements have been enacted, with states and territory governments managing the situation on the ground. But I also want to again thank the Australian public for reporting sick or dead birds in recent weeks. And if you see sick or dead birds or animals, please do not touch them, avoid contact with them, record where they are and record them if possible and make a report to birdflu.gov.au. I’m happy to take some questions.

JOURNALIST: Just on the Greater Crested Tern, you must be worried about that, being the first Australian seabird that’s tested positive? And can you give us an idea, when you talk about enhanced surveillance, are you talking about extra personnel? Can you just give us a picture of what that looks like?

COLLINS: In terms of the Greater Crested Tern, this is the first Australian bird that we have detected the H5 bird flu in, and it shows that our biosecurity system is working. This was a single bird located in Robe in South Australia. The South Australians then sent it off for testing. It’s then gone to the CSIRO lab where it has been confirmed as a Greater Crested Tern and with the H5 bird flu. So certainly, we are working closely with the South Australian Government in terms of their enhanced surveillance. They have already increased their surveillance, and they’ve been doing coastal surveillance, and they still have quite healthy populations of Australian seabirds, and they have not detected any mass mortalities. They’ll continue this surveillance, and the Minister in South Australia will stand up this afternoon and will have more to say.

JOURNALIST: All right. That surveillance, like, are we talking 20 people, 40 people down the coast going through the bush?

COLLINS: This is managed on the ground by the states and territories, and I’m obviously providing you with this information at the earliest opportunity, and that means that I may not have as much detail as you are seeking at this point in time. We are being as upfront with the Australian public at the earliest opportunity in every case. And certainly, I have only just been briefed this morning, and these lab results have only just come through this morning. The South Australian Government Minister will be standing up later today in response to this in South Australia. And certainly, the South Australians have been putting more people on the ground. And this was found and identified by a member of the public and reported it through the animal disease hotline. So that can be found at birdflu.gov.au. And certainly it was a single bird. There were not other dead birds found with this bird in the location, as I’m advised.

JOURNALIST: Can you tell us a bit more about what that location was and when exactly it was found?

COLLINS: It was found just a few days ago, and it’s taken a bit of time for the laboratory testing to come through. But certainly, in Robe in South Australia. I understand it was in a coastal area, and the South Australian Minister will provide more detail in relation to the exact location and where it was.

JOURNALIST: Do you know if this is a bird species that travels alone or is it likely to be part of a flock?

COLLINS: That is a technical question, I don’t have the detail. But I do understand it is a coastal seabird and it does overlap with the migratory seabirds that we have found the H5 bird flu in.

JOURNALIST: Last weekend the Chief Vet advised poultry farmers of free range flocks to bring the flocks indoors if they could for the next fortnight. It wasn’t a mandatory request. Are you aware of how many farmers have actually abided by that advice and put their flocks indoors?

COLLINS: Well, those orders are actually enacted by states and territories, and states and territories have been working with local industry in those areas close to where the detections have been found. And they have been working with, particularly, poultry farmers, substantial farmers in those regions in relation to what sort of housing orders need to be in place. And as you indicated, they were temporary in terms of the 14 days in those regions and areas, if the Government has actually enacted them.

JOURNALIST: Do you know whether people have adhered to that advice?

COLLINS: Well, that would be a matter for it being managed on the ground by the states and territories.

JOURNALIST: If I could ask, how across the preparations are you in Tasmania, whether Tasmania has learned anything from how other states are responding to this?

COLLINS: My understanding is that in Tasmania we have had some reports of dead birds and that the Tasmanian state government has been testing those. At this stage there are no suspected positives in Tasmania, and the Tasmanian Government has been working on the ground. As I said earlier, I really do want to thank the public because they are our first line of defence when it comes to biosecurity and they have been extraordinary. We have been dealing with literally hundreds of calls – thousands, in fact, nationwide. And they are being triaged by the states and territories. And we’ve now tested hundreds of birds across the country.

JOURNALIST: Do you know if that particular – again, a technical question – that particular kind of bird does travel to Tasmania?

COLLINS: I don’t know the detail, but I’m happy to find out for you.

JOURNALIST: With 12 confirmed or 12 detections now at this point in time, at what point will federal authorities need to consider ramping up any responses to ensure that it is able to keep on top of any future escalations of these detection numbers?

COLLINS: So our technical experts are meeting on a regular basis as needed, and they’ll meet when we get some more detail in terms of the sequency, and that comes from the CSIRO lab, and seek to determine whether this particular tern has caught it off these migratory birds. If it’s the same sort of sequence as that or not, and to see if they’re able to get any more information. They may not be able to, but they’re certainly working around the clock to try and get us the best information they have available for our technical experts to make those decisions. And they’ll then provide advice to governments.

JOURNALIST: Do you know how many reports have been made in Tasmania and what the average testing time is?

COLLINS: No, but we could probably get that information for you.

JOURNALIST: Minister, I’ve got some questions about Rushy Lagoon, if everyone else is done with bird flu?

COLLINS: Everybody finished with bird flu?

JOURNALIST: With Rushy Lagoon, the Acting Premier here has asked the Prime Minister to intervene in the sale of Rushy Lagoon. Will he?

COLLINS: Well, obviously this is a significant investment in northern Tasmania at a time when our Premier is actually overseas seeking this type of investment in Tasmania. We’re talking about a $140 million investment. We’re talking about 190 jobs, so this is a significant investment in Northern Tasmania.

JOURNALIST: Will the Prime Minister intervene? That’s the point of the question.

COLLINS: Well, obviously it’s gone through quite a process with the Foreign Investment Review Board, and that process has been gone through and a recommendation was made to the Treasurer that this sale be approved. It’s obviously up to Tasmanian landowners on who they wish to sell their property to, and it has gone through an appropriate and proper process.

JOURNALIST: Tasmanians are pretty cranky about this, particularly the green energy finance – Clean Energy Finance Corporation also being part of this sale. Does it pass the pub test?

COLLINS: What I would say there is obviously in the local community there has been a lot of what I would call misinformation, and concern out there. What I would reiterate is this is a significant investment in northern Tasmania at a time when northern Tasmania needs local jobs. We’re talking about 190 jobs. We’re also importantly talking about some timber and farming still occurring on the site. But, importantly, timber at a time when Australia has a timber shortage and at a time when we do need timber for construction of homes.

JOURNALIST: How confident are you that this bid by the foreign company backed by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation with taxpayer support hasn’t crowded out Tasmanian farmers and companies from buying that land?

COLLINS: This property has been on the market for a very long time – I understand for almost 10 years. And this process, of course, has been ongoing for some time in terms of the sale and has gone through a rigorous process. I would reiterate, this is a significant investment and, we do, of course, need the timber. As I’ve said, there’s a timber shortage nationally, and this timber will be important in terms of housing construction in the future.

JOURNALIST: Northern Tasmania, though, has seen failed managed investment schemes before. We’ve heard harrowing stories more than a decade ago. It’s similar in the kind of proposal that is being put forward now as to what to turn Rushy Park into. Are you confident that this is not going to end in tears like that last time?

COLLINS: Well, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation obviously acts independently of Government and it has assessed it in a rigorous process and has determined that this investment is worthwhile. And obviously this is an equity investment, so there would be a return to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and, therefore, the Australian taxpayer from this investment occurring in northern Tasmania.

JOURNALIST: Sure. You’re the senior Federal Government Cabinet Minister here in Tasmania. You would have known how devastating the MIS scheme was. We’re talking more than a decade ago. Are you confident that this is not going to end in tears?

COLLINS: Well, what I’m confident about is that it’s gone through rigorous independent processes, through the Foreign Investment Review Board and through the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and that the $140 million investment in Tasmania, in northern Tasmania, is much needed.

JOURNALIST: Acting Premier Bridget Archer yesterday said that there had been local interest expressed with Rushy Lagoon. As the Federal Agriculture Minister, were you aware of any local interest from Tasmania being expressed to purchase that land?

COLLINS: Well, as I’m sure as you would appreciate, it would be inappropriate for me to have, you know, a specified role in terms of who a private seller sells their land to. This was owned by a New Zealand company and has been bought by another company. And certainly it is not my role to go around and tell people what they can and can’t do with their individual land. The Tasmanian state government had the land classifications on it, and this is within the land classifications that the Tasmanian government has set.

JOURNALIST: But were you or the federal government aware that there was local interest in this land?

COLLINS: Well, obviously it’s a matter for the land seller on who they sell their land to, and it’s gone through a rigorous process.

JOURNALIST: Do you believe this is the best outcome for Tasmania’s environment long term?

COLLINS: Well, I do think that it’s important that we continue to have investment in Tasmania. We’re talking about farming activities continuing, but we’re also talking about significant investment that will create jobs in northern Tasmania. And we’re also talking about additional timber that certainly Tasmania and the country needs.

JOURNALIST: Was local interest given a fair look in for a potential purchase of this land?

COLLINS: Local interests would have had the same opportunities as everybody else in terms of any bids that they put towards the seller.

JOURNALIST: Can the public have confidence that the government in future purchases like this will be transparent about the involvement of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation?

COLLINS: Well, obviously these go through rigorous processes, as I’ve indicated. And in terms of the Foreign Investment Review Board, those decisions are taken by the Board and there are recommendations to Government, and the Treasurer has made a decision in line with the recommendation. They do go through a very rigorous process, as they have under previous Governments of all persuasions.