❓ I refer to the Minister's letter dated 17 February 2026 acknowledging commitment to HPAI preparedness and its significant impact on wildlife, agriculture, and community. My questions address public he
AnsweredQoN 1292Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the Minister's letter dated 17 February 2026 acknowledging commitment to HPAI preparedness and its significant impact on wildlife, agriculture, and community. My questions address public health messaging and wildlife centre capacity supporting this preparedness. DPIRD advises the public not to handle birds during an HPAI incursion due to zoonotic risk and will not direct them to centres for humane euthanasia. However, experience demonstrates the public will continue presenting birds through lack of awareness or ignoring advice. Centres have repeatedly advised DPIRD and DBCA that without emergency funding they will close to avian admissions, yet birds will continue being left. Without emergency funding, two outcomes emerge creating serious animal welfare, biosecurity, and public health risks: birds die over 12 to 72 hours in containers; or the public takes birds into homes as interim care. Abandoned infected birds are a reasonable expectation during the first three to six months while messaging establishes a new operational normal. DPIRD and DBCA advise collection and disposal of deceased infected birds is not their responsibility. Centres support federal and state advice not to rehabilitate HPAI-infected birds but could oversee humane euthanasia and carcass disposal if funded, managing public health and biosecurity risks when birds are presented despite advice. This function requires government funding as it extends beyond the financial capacity and mandate of volunteer organisations, and I ask: (a) what is the Government's preparedness plan if
members of the public present birds to wildlife centres despite public health
advice not to handle them? In particular: (i) what measures are available to address animal
welfare if centres refuse admissions to protect volunteers, leaving no viable
pathway for safe management of potentially infected birds brought by the public
to facilities; and (ii) what measures are available to address public
exposure if birds are taken into homes as an interim care response; (b) what agency is responsible for collecting and
disposing of deceased infected birds when DPIRD and DBCA advise this is not
their responsibility; and (c) will the Minister provide emergency funding to
enable wildlife centres to provide humane euthanasia and carcass disposal
services during an HPAI outbreak: (i) if no to (c), why not?
members of the public present birds to wildlife centres despite public health
advice not to handle them? In particular: (i) what measures are available to address animal
welfare if centres refuse admissions to protect volunteers, leaving no viable
pathway for safe management of potentially infected birds brought by the public
to facilities; and (ii) what measures are available to address public
exposure if birds are taken into homes as an interim care response; (b) what agency is responsible for collecting and
disposing of deceased infected birds when DPIRD and DBCA advise this is not
their responsibility; and (c) will the Minister provide emergency funding to
enable wildlife centres to provide humane euthanasia and carcass disposal
services during an HPAI outbreak: (i) if no to (c), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 April 2026
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
5 days
(a) In the event of a H5 HPAI outbreak in Australia, the nationally agreed public messaging is for people to avoid, record and report sick or injured wildlife.
(i) The WA Government, through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), is working closely with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Advisory Group of WA regarding the role they may take in the event of an outbreak in WA. This includes identifying practical operational models and activities for wildlife rehabilitation centres to support wildlife health.
(ii) Public messaging clearly advises against handling wildlife and promotes reporting pathways. A suite of information is available on DPIRD’s website and includes information on good biosecurity practices and the use of personal protective equipment if handling wildlife during an outbreak. Any further public health measures during a H5 HPAI outbreak would be led by the Department of Health.
(b) National, state and territory governments have developed guidelines and public information on the management of wildlife carcasses. Landowners and land managers should undertake an appropriate risk assessment which factors biosecurity, environmental and public health considerations to determine whether carcasses should remain in situ or be removed for off-site disposal.
(c) Under the National Management Agreement for H5 HPAI in wildlife, up to $30 million is available nationally for cost-sharing of approved, eligible response activities. Support for wildlife rehabilitators to undertake euthanasia and carcass disposal are potentially eligible for response funding under this Agreement.
(i) Not applicable.
(i) The WA Government, through the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA), is working closely with the Wildlife Rehabilitation Advisory Group of WA regarding the role they may take in the event of an outbreak in WA. This includes identifying practical operational models and activities for wildlife rehabilitation centres to support wildlife health.
(ii) Public messaging clearly advises against handling wildlife and promotes reporting pathways. A suite of information is available on DPIRD’s website and includes information on good biosecurity practices and the use of personal protective equipment if handling wildlife during an outbreak. Any further public health measures during a H5 HPAI outbreak would be led by the Department of Health.
(b) National, state and territory governments have developed guidelines and public information on the management of wildlife carcasses. Landowners and land managers should undertake an appropriate risk assessment which factors biosecurity, environmental and public health considerations to determine whether carcasses should remain in situ or be removed for off-site disposal.
(c) Under the National Management Agreement for H5 HPAI in wildlife, up to $30 million is available nationally for cost-sharing of approved, eligible response activities. Support for wildlife rehabilitators to undertake euthanasia and carcass disposal are potentially eligible for response funding under this Agreement.
(i) Not applicable.
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