Avian Influenza

The Hon. T.A. FRANKS (15:48): I rise to speak about the need for a Coorong field research station, particularly with the avian flu and H5N1 and its mutations in particular. Avian flu has now reached Antarctica. We thought distance could save us, but it is now in Antarctica and distance can no longer protect us. Around the world there is evidence of this strain of avian flu jumping from birds to marine mammals, potentially impacting bull seals, sea lions, dolphins and penguins.

We have seen 500,000 wild birds dead in South America, 40 per cent of Peruvian pelicans dead in a matter of months, 30,000 South American sea lions dying, equal to around 10 per cent of that population, and 18,000 southern elephant seals dying as a result of this avian flu. The harsh reality is that, for South Australia, our iconic Coorong, recognised around the world for its exceptional beauty—and rightly so—is the most likely point of entry to Australia for the virus as it is likely to arrive with migratory birds.

The exceptional Ramsar-listed site also faces exceptional challenges. Indeed, the risk to bird populations generally is such that there are serious suggestions that as a nation we should be exploring the vaccination of not only captive at-risk species such as the orange-bellied parrot but also of various species in the wild. The evidence also suggests that this should extend to other at-risk species such as the sea lions of Kangaroo Island. The impact on our wild bird and animal populations has the potential to be disastrous but it does not stop with wild water and bird species, it can impact domestic birds as well. Indeed, most recently in the UK it has been found for the first time in sheep.

The economic impact of avian flu ripping through both our poultry and sheep sectors would be devastating, but hold this picture in your minds and imagine now that, in addition to the impacts on our sheep and poultry sectors, it quickly jumps from waterbirds to seals. We know this is possible but imagine if it were to get into the sea lion population of Kangaroo Island. Imagine Kangaroo Island without seals. I hope it never comes to fruition, and there is much that we can do to prevent that.

Over the last six years, expert volunteers working in the Coorong in partnership with commercial fishers have been able to identify and document multiple pest and disease outbreaks, most critically the presence, distribution and number of animals involved in an avian cholera outbreak. For this avian cholera outbreak they were able to get bacterial samples to PIRSA within the one-hour window that is available and required for accurate testing—that is right, a one-hour window. That is impossible to do if your closest staff are in Adelaide and working to meet other commitments.

If we do not have a presence on the ground in the Coorong, we will not be nimble enough to respond in the kind of timeframe we need, and there is a possibility that the crucial period of identifying the arrival of avian flu may well be missed and we may well be too late. Whilst the Coorong is of critical importance, this issue goes beyond the Coorong. However, it is where this virus is most likely to enter South Australia. It is unrealistic to think that we will, as a nation and a continent, remain free of the H5N1 virus. It is not a question of if it arrives but when it arrives, and when it arrives we need to be ready. But we can only respond with that kind of one-hour timeframe required to secure a quick and accurate identification of the virus if we have a local field research station.

It is not all bad news however. There is actually a suitable property at Woods Well. Indeed, it is ready there and waiting now and it could enable us to set up this much-needed field research station. But we must move quickly. Time is of the essence and much is at stake. Without swift action, it may not be only birds hit by the avian flu that are dead in the water, it may well be our tourism industry, our agriculture industry and parts of our livestock industry too.