Tasmania prepared for bird flu threat, state government says

The state government says that protecting Tasmanian primary producers was one of its main aims following the detection of H5 Bird Flu in Western Australia.

The strain originated in Antarctica before being detected in a deceased brown skua.

But Phil Glover of Mt Roland Eggs said he was not majorly concerned about the disease.

“It’s here, it’s about, and it could happen, but there are lots of diseases around too that no one even thinks about,” Mr Glover said.

“You can’t go around living your life in fear.”

Mr Glover said he did have biosecurity plans in place at his farm.

“But there’s not much we can do at a farm like yours because we’re so exposed.

“There are lots of bodies around us, and there are lots of waterfowl in it.

“If it were going to come anywhere in Tasmania, we’d probably most likely be the first people to get it.”

If another farm were able to get a bird flu outbreak, Mr Glover said he would be able to adapt operations.

“We could run a barn-type situation where we just kept the birds inside all the time until the threat passed.”

Mr Glover said if bird flu were to reach his property, all of his poultry would likely have to be euthanised.

That would result in his business being shut down until he could rebuild his poultry stock.

Mr Glover said the worst-case scenario would be if a big farm or egg business, such as Pure Foods Eggs, had bird flu; it would have a major impact.

“As far as food security, that’s a pretty big blow to the state.”

Biosecurity Tasmania General Manager Rae Burrows said that whether poultry flocks infected with bird flu would be euthanised would be done on a case-by-case basis.

She also said the risk of the disease transferring to dairy cows was currently low.

Primary Industries Minister Gavin Pearce said protecting primary producers was a critical focus.

“The threat of H5 bird flu to Tasmania has been active for some time now, and state agencies have been working diligently with a range of stakeholders to prepare for the expected arrival of the disease,” Minister Pearce said.

“We stand ready to support our farmers and fishers to ensure our agricultural and aquacultural sectors are shielded from the impacts that bird flu can bring as much as possible.

“Australia has well-established national response arrangements in place to respond to emergency animal diseases such as bird flu and Tasmania is prepared to deploy a whole-of-government response immediately, if required.

“If it makes its way to Tasmania, we are ready.”