Ms CARNEY - 2005-08-25
As you know, water fowl migrate between Asia and the Top End. It is also the case that bird flu is endemic in migratory waterfowl fowl, including geese, throughout Asia, and Russia, and is now spreading through Europe. I understand that the Northern Territory shooting season is upon us and that a condition of a shooting licence is that water fowl must be consumed. What steps have you taken to warn Territory shooters about the possibility that this lethal virus could be present in migratory water fowl and geese?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have taken the most important step of all, and that is to go to what is a world renowned infectious disease unit in our health system. We can be rightly proud of the professionals we have here, who not only have done absolute leading edge work on these public health issues in Australia and the Northern Territory, but have been used quite widely throughout South-East Asia as part of the follow-up to the tsunami disaster and other natural disasters throughout that region.
I am assured, on their expert advice, that there is no need for that action. We believe that the risk at the moment is very small and we will continue to monitor the situation.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I have taken the most important step of all, and that is to go to what is a world renowned infectious disease unit in our health system. We can be rightly proud of the professionals we have here, who not only have done absolute leading edge work on these public health issues in Australia and the Northern Territory, but have been used quite widely throughout South-East Asia as part of the follow-up to the tsunami disaster and other natural disasters throughout that region.
I am assured, on their expert advice, that there is no need for that action. We believe that the risk at the moment is very small and we will continue to monitor the situation.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016