Minister for the Environment and Water, Senator the Hon Murray Watt
Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, the Hon Julie Collins MP
The Albanese Labor Government is delivering an additional $11.2 million to further ramp up efforts to prepare our most at-risk native species for a potential outbreak of H5 avian influenza (bird flu).
Australia is the only continent that remains free from H5 bird flu, which has rapidly spread globally, primarily through the movement of migratory birds, leading to significant impacts on poultry, wild birds and some mammal species overseas.
If H5 bird flu reaches Australia it could significantly impact wildlife, threatened species and agricultural industries, which is why the Albanese Labor Government has invested over $113 million to strengthen Australia's preparedness.
This latest funding in the 2026-27 Budget bolsters preparedness activities, including invasive species control and habitat improvement across the country, and a focus on eradicating invasive species on Australia's offshore islands.
Many of these islands contain globally significant bird breeding colonies, and act as refuges for threatened seabirds, shorebirds, marine mammals and species found nowhere else in the world. In the event of a potential H5 bird flu outbreak, these species could experience severe population impacts.
New information from the Australian Antarctic Program released today highlights why it's so important to continue building on our preparedness efforts.
Recently Australian scientists undertook two management voyages to Heard Island and McDonald Islands, a remote sub-Antarctic Australian external territory about 4,000km south-west of Western Australia.
Earlier testing confirmed the presence of H5 bird flu in samples collected from southern elephant seals, Antarctic fur seals and gentoo penguins on Heard Island. Analysis is now complete on additional samples and extensive drone footage taken of the islands, which has revealed significant mortalities in southern elephant seal pups, and confirmed bird flu in several more bird species.
The findings also point to suspected H5 bird flu impacts on McDonald Islands, with evidence of elephant seal pup mortality. However, due to the protected status of the island, no on-ground sampling was undertaken, meaning laboratory confirmation was not possible.
As part of the Albanese Labor Government's more than $113 million bird flu investment, over $47 million has been committed for environmental measures.
Examples of successful projects underway include:
- In South Australia, early project results show Australian sea lion pups are in better, healthier condition after treatment for hookworm infection. Pups have been monitored using pup shelters installed at high-risk sites, including Seal Bay. The shelters aim to enhance pup survival by reducing heat stress and the effects of adult male aggression.
- In the Northern Territory Mary River region, aerial pest and weed control is delivering strong results, with over 5,500 pigs removed and more than 1,700 hectares treated for invasive weeds to support at-risk species like the magpie goose.
- At Port Stephens off-shore islands in NSW, on-ground biosecurity measures are actively underway, with monitoring deployed and early results indicating no detections of pest species.
- Within the Coral Sea Marine Park, one of Australia's most spectacular marine treasures, rapid weed removal on Willis Island is targeting invasive species such as dwarf poinsettia and it's delivering immediate benefits. Seabirds have returned within 24 hours - including sooty terns - and have reoccupied nesting habitat and commenced egg laying, demonstrating the direct positive effects of ecological restoration works on critical breeding sites.
- Funding is also helping key wildlife facilities safeguard captive populations of threatened native species. In total, 29 facilities with 31 threatened species have received crucial support to help them prepare for H5 bird flu. This includes the Tasmanian devil, orange-bellied parrot and regent honeyeater.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water, Murray Watt:
"While these latest findings from the AAD scientific team are expected based on earlier testing, any loss of wildlife is sobering.
"For now we're free from the serious and contagious H5 bird flu, but as it continues to spread globally, we must be realistic about the likelihood of an incursion here, and plan accordingly.
"The best way to prepare our native wildlife is to ensure strong, healthy populations. That's why we've provided an additional $11.2 million in this year's Budget for continuing support for at-risk species resilience and reducing the impacts of other threats, bringing our total environmental investment to $47 million."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins:
"Australia remains the only continent free from the highly contagious strain of H5 bird flu, and we're doing everything we can to prepare for, detect and respond rapidly to any incursion.
"The funding announced in this year's Budget shows that preparedness for H5 bird flu remains a high priority for the Albanese Labor Government.
"The spread of H5 bird flu to Heard Island reinforces the importance of ongoing vigilance and coordinated biosecurity measures in Australia."
