Senator The Hon Murray Watt, Minister for the Environment and Water
The Hon Julie Collins MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Albanese Government is investing over $260,000 to safeguard native species at Sea World Gold Coast and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, in response to the threat of H5 high pathogenicity avian influenza (H5 bird flu).
Australia is the only continent that remains free from H5 bird flu. Its rapid global spread, primarily through the movement of migratory birds, has led to significant impacts on poultry, wild birds and some mammal species overseas. Cases have also been detected in people. If H5 bird flu reaches Australia it could significantly impact agricultural industries, wildlife including threatened species, and communities.
Last November, testing confirmed the presence of H5 bird flu in samples collected from southern elephant seals on Heard Island, a remote sub-Antarctic Australian external territory more than 4,000km south-west of Perth.
Today's funding announcement will support both Gold Coast facilities to boost critical biosecurity measures, to protect their most at-risk birds and marine mammals from a potential future outbreak in Australia.
This includes upgrading wildlife hospital triage facilities, installing biosecurity equipment to enclosures and providing personal protective equipment for staff to prevent spread of the disease.
Species directly benefitting from these actions are the Australian sea lion, sub-Antarctic fur seal, eastern bristlebird and regent honeyeater.
These facilities are part of a second round of H5 bird flu captive threatened species support, 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. Recipients in other States and Territories will be announced shortly.
Quotes attributable to Minister for the Environment and Water Murray Watt:
"These birds and seals play an important role nationally in making sure their species have safe, healthy futures ahead.
"The Albanese Government is very pleased to support Sea World and Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary to continue the important work they do caring for these incredible creatures.
"This funding builds on our Government's broader $100 million investment to prepare for the arrival of H5 bird flu, which includes $35.9 million to boost environmental measures and accelerate protective action for threatened species."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins MP:
"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 for this disease.
"We know an outbreak could significantly impact Australia's agricultural industries, wildlife and communities, which is why we're further boosting our already strong biosecurity preparedness arrangements.
"Our Government's $100 million investment to prepare for H5 bird flu is helping safeguard our agricultural industries and protecting Australia's precious wildlife."
Quotes attributable to Nicola Craddock, Executive Director, ZAA:
"It is so important that we protect our threatened species as we prepare for the risk of H5 bird flu.
"ZAA welfare accredited facilities are a vital safeguard, with many of them helping to maintain insurance populations or breed for release programs for threatened species conservation and recovery.
"Where we have very fragile populations in the wild, the small populations within our zoos and wildlife facilities play a critical role. They allow us to bolster wild populations through carefully managed breed‑for‑release programs."
Quotes attributable to Dr Claire Madden, Sea World Head Veterinarian:
"This Australian Government funding is crucial to ensuring our preparedness for the real possibility of a H5 bird flu incursion into Australia.
"H5 bird flu is particularly concerning for Australian marine environments and the zoological industry, as we have seen the catastrophic impacts the virus has had on wild marine wildlife including sea birds and seal populations around the world.
"One of the concerning factors is there are so many unknowns about the behaviours and transmissions of the virus, but this funding allows us to be as prepared as we can to ensure we protect the threatened species at Sea World and other facilities."
Sea World Gold Coast (Australian sea lion, sub-Antarctic fur seal) - $179,100
Quotes attributable to Anthony Molyneux, Head of Conservation and Life Sciences, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary:
"With the northern eastern bristlebird so close to disappearing from the wild, it's critical we continue our work to safeguard this species.
"We're incredibly proud to play a role in the long-term recovery of the regent honeyeater through our conservation breeding work, helping to also give this species a stronger future.
"This funding will make a meaningful difference on the ground, supporting upgrades to wildlife hospital triage facilities, improving on-site water management, and ensuring our teams have the right protective equipment to continue caring for wildlife to the highest standard."
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (eastern bristlebird, regent honeyeater) - $88,749
