Portfolio — 30 July 2026

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Julie Collins, and Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Beth Cookson briefed on an escalating H5N1 avian influenza situation, with the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Diseases concluding that local transmission has occurred among resident greater crested terns in South Australia [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].

Eleven suspect greater crested tern cases from South Australia have been sent to the CSIRO laboratory for confirmatory testing [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].

**Outbreak Scale and Investment**

Australia has recorded 27 confirmed H5 bird-flu detections to date — 14 in South Australia, 10 in Western Australia, two in New South Wales and one in Queensland [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a]. The government has invested $113 million in preparedness and released an additional $24 million jointly with states and territories to manage the outbreak [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].

The Australian Centre for Disease Control reports no detections in poultry or other agricultural industries and assesses the risk to human health as low [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].

**Public Reporting and Biosecurity Response**

The Emergency Animal Disease Hotline has received over 10,000 calls since 20 June, with the public advised to avoid handling dead birds and report sightings of sick or dead wildlife via birdflu.gov.au [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a]. Enhanced biosecurity protocols are being implemented for captive bird populations, including hygiene measures at facilities such as Adelaide Zoo, to reduce contact between wild and captive birds [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].

Poultry producers are urged to review and strengthen on-farm biosecurity plans and may face risk-based housing orders determined by state and territory chief veterinary officers [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].

**Portfolio Continuity**

Today's briefing extends the portfolio's recent focus on safeguarding agricultural productivity, following the Farm System Productivity Program grant rollout noted in the prior daily note. The approach combines surveillance, state-territory coordination, targeted investment and biosecurity measures to contain H5N1 spread and protect agriculture, fisheries and wildlife [TA-260729-agricu-74f9d963de2a].