Interview with Nic Healey, ABC Shepparton Breakfast

E&OE TRANSCRIPT
RADIO INTERVIEW
ABC SHEPPARTON - BREAKFAST
WEDNESDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2024

SUBJECTS: H5N1 avian influenza preparedness, visit to the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence

NIC HEALEY [HOST]: Now, avian flu. I know early this year we saw Victoria's poultry industry absolutely struggling to deal with a really rapid spread of some of those H7 variants of the virus, and even if that was coming under control, we were being warned that the worst could be yet to come. The H5N1 strain has spread rapidly right around the world. In the US, it's been impacting cattle, we're talking about more than 320 dairy herds across 14 States, it's made at least 26 farm workers sick, and broadly, it's killed about 280 million birds in the last three years. But it has not made it to Australia yet. It will be a matter of time. Now earlier this month, Federal Government announced an additional 95 million going into the war chest to get us prepared on this. Senator Anthony Chisholm is Assistant Minister for Agriculture. He's in Shepparton this morning and joins me now. Good morning, Senator.

ANTHONY CHISHOLM [ASSISTANT MINISTER]: Good morning, and good to be with you and your listeners.

HEALEY: What's going to happen with this money? How are we divvying this additional 95 million up?

CHISHOLM: Yeah, so obviously we've been watching what's going on overseas and the devastating impact it's had and want to prepare as much as we can. So earlier in the year we announced a $6.9 million investment to be as prepared as possible, and this additional $95 million goes to further prepare and protect our industry. That includes $37 million for agriculture, which includes $15 million to boost the national biosecurity response, $5 million to boost our scientific capability, including procuring vaccines for some of the captive threatened bird species, and up to $10 million invested nationally in coordinated communications to ensure the Australian community is informed, prepared and protected, $7 million to enhance bird surveillance capabilities, $35 million to invest in accelerated protective action for threatened species, and $22 million to strengthen public health preparedness by increasing the number of vaccines available as well. So we think that this is on top of the measures that we've already taken, and obviously the biosecurity measures we've got in place are important in terms of how we deal with that, but we do know that the bird migration is an issue.

HEALEY: Well, the bird migration is an issue, the way bird migration is changing due to climate change is making this a little more haphazard and a little harder to get on top of, and while 100 million sounds like a lot of money in terms of preparedness, I know for varroa mite, that ended up costing about $130 million. So is this just the start of potential investment; is that what the Government might be worried about?

CHISHOLM: Obviously we understand how significant this is. We've seen the impacts already from different strains and have seen how rapidly this is spreading around the world. We want to ensure that we're as prepared as possible to deal with an outbreak. I'm sure, given how important biosecurity is to Australia, that the Federal Government will stand ready to do more if that's what is required.

HEALEY: Is the Federal Government going to be taking over this as a control, or will you be working with State Governments as well?

CHISHOLM: We obviously, the way these matters are handled across our country is that we work constructively with the states in regards to this, but we understand that this is already nationally significant, and we'll be prepared to do more if that's what is necessary.

HEALEY: What did we learn from the recent H7 avian flu outbreaks, especially around Victoria, that we'll be taking into our control of this?

CHISHOLM: Well, I think from a Federal Government point of view, it is to be as prepared as possible. We saw the impacts that it had, and it really, you know, it does devastate those farms, and those people involved, and we understand that, I suppose, the human impact in the stress and the impact it can have on people's livelihoods. So we want to be doing what we can, be as prepared and thorough as we can, and obviously I think, unfortunately in a way, the Federal Government does have some experience in dealing with these, and they do seem to be becoming more prevalent at the moment.

HEALEY: Senator, $10 million for coordinated communications. How is that going to look, do we have an understanding yet?

CHISHOLM: No, I'm happy to try and come back to you on that, Nic, with a bit more information. Obviously, I think, being able, being ready to communicate what it means is important, but also part of that is ensuring that people know what to be looking out for as well so that you can identify when there are issues associated. So I think there's two elements to it; one being ready to respond, but two, being able to identify early if you do have an issue.

HEALEY: When we look at responses like this, we talk a lot about industry, but of course for many people this comes down to individual farmers, individual farms. How are you hoping to engage those people on an individual level to make this digestible, understandable, and for them to get a genuine sense of what support is available for them?

CHISHOLM: In my experience and what I’ve seen the farmers themselves are very thorough in their preparedness and obviously wanting to ensure that they are kept up to date with the latest information. We obviously work with the State Governments, we work with their representative bodies at the same time to ensure that we're communicating as best as possible. I'm sure that will continue, and I know that the Department is very thorough in their determination to be doing   communicating clearly around these matters.

HEALEY: What's the purpose of your trip into Goulburn Valley Region this week?

CHISHOLM: So I made a promise to Uncle Paul Briggs in Canberra earlier this year, and he was down having a chat to me about the Munarra Centre, and I said I'd come visit, and unfortunately I got sick at the time, but it's a follow up trip basically. So I spent time there yesterday, I spent time with the CEO of the Council, unfortunately you've just gone through elections, so I didn't meet with any of the Council or the Mayor, but really just to get a sense of the priorities for this area, and  

HEALEY: To meet with your Regional Development hat on rather than your Agriculture hat?

CHISHOLM: Yeah, and also a bit of the Education portfolio at the same time. So, but it's been a really enjoyable trip, and the thing that I've liked is that everyone I've met with have been really clear about what they want to achieve, and I get a sense that there's a real sense of momentum around this area, but people really wanting to   want it to be successful and want people to have opportunity, and I got a sense of that from the Council, from the Munarra Centre yesterday, and also I'm visiting a couple of farms on the way back to Melbourne today.

HEALEY: We often hear about the Munarra Centre that it is a world class structure when it comes to First Nations education. What's your perspective on that, Senator?

CHISHOLM: I was really impressed, and the thing that I found really interesting is how they're working with the different sectors of the education system, so it's not often that you have a couple of universities working constructively together; they're very protective of their turf, so to speak. But they were in the same room yesterday invested; some of the schools were there as well. So I think that the interesting thing I found is that how they want to embrace the local community and make everyone a part of their vision, and I think that the whole of this area would benefit from First Nations people achieving a better education result, getting into the workforce and helping solve some of those skills challenges that we've got. So I think that the work that they do will benefit the whole community, and I get a sense that there's a lot of people embracing that, which is fantastic.

HEALEY: Senator, Anthony Chisholm, thanks for your time this morning. I know how busy you are. I appreciate you coming in to chat.

CHISHOLM: No worries, thank you.

HEALEY: The Senator is the Assistant Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in addition to many, many other roles.