Statements
Avian influenza
Ministerial statement
Hon Jackie Jarvis (Minister for Agriculture and Food) (10:02 am): I rise to inform the house that Western Australia is now a signatory to the national management agreement for H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in wildlife. This agreement is an important step forward in establishing national agreements for a coordinated response to an incursion of the H5 HPAI in wildlife, where eradication or containment of the disease is not possible. This agreement was developed in response to the global spread of H5 HPAI and the increasing risk of an incursion in Australia. Since 2020, a strain of H5 HPAI has been circulating globally, causing significant deaths in poultry and wild birds and affecting a large number of wild and domesticated mammal species. It has also caused some cases of disease in people. This virus has now been detected in all continents except Australia. The natural migration patterns of wild birds means that it will not be possible to stop this virus from entering Australia. As it circulates between wild birds, it will also not be possible to eradicate or contain an outbreak in wildlife.
Being a signatory to this agreement reflects the Cook government's commitment to strengthening the state's capability to manage the impacts of a potential outbreak in wildlife in Western Australia and the subsequent impact on the WA poultry industry. As a signatory, WA will benefit from the national security framework to manage H5 HPAI in wildlife in an effective and coordinated way through a clear governance framework and national funding arrangements. Once enacted, this agreement will be in effect for 12 months, reflecting the intent that response activities will need to transition to management activities on an ongoing basis.
WA has received an initial $2 million in funding from the federal government to enhance our capability to prepare for and respond to a potential incursion of H5 HPAI. This funding has been matched by the Cook government and is being used to support a range of activities to further enhance our capacity to prepare for, respond to and recover from an avian influenza outbreak. This funding is also delivering a range of other preparedness activities, including workshops for poultry producers to support their biosecurity planning, the purchase of personal protective and sampling equipment, and the development of a range of communications and advertising materials. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development continues to lead the interagency work on HPAI preparedness to facilitate a whole-of-government approach to an outbreak in WA. This One Health approach focuses on working across sectors to mitigate the impacts of an outbreak on human health, animal health and the environment.
