Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

H5 avian influenza (bird flu) has been confirmed in a migratory seabird found on an isolated beach in southern Western Australia. This is the first detection of H5 bird flu in Australia.

There have been no detections in poultry or additional native species.

Australia is well prepared to respond to H5 bird flu.

You can help. If you find multiple sick or dead birds or other animals do not touch them.

- Avoid – contact.
- Record – what you see.
- Report – to the Emergency Animal Disease Hotline on 1800 675 888.

For more information visit https://srkr.io/6187BGjW.

🐟 Healthy oceans support healthy communities, jobs and marine life.

Today is the International Day for the Fight against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing.

IUU fishing:
🚫 Depletes fish stocks
🚫 Damages marine ecosystems
🚫 Undermines legal industries and jobs

IUU fishing undermines the sustainable management of fish stocks and Australia has a long history of working with regional partners to address the issue. Cooperation is essential if we want to protect marine ecosystems and communities who rely on them.

That is why through Australia’s Combating IUU Fishing and Promoting Sustainable Fisheries in Southeast Asia program, we work with regional partners to support collaboration, share fisheries management knowledge and support sustainable fishing.

Together, we can help keep our oceans healthy, productive, and full of life.

Meet Derek, Team Leader for the Southeast Arafura Rangers at Donydji and Dhupuwamirri in Northeast Arnhem Land. As Australia prepares for the risk of H5 bird flu, rangers like Derek help protect birds and Country.

“I am from Dhupuwamirri homeland in Northeast Arnhem Land. My totems are the wäk (crow) and the birrkpirrk (plover). My mother’s totem is the gurrumatji (magpie goose). I have a responsibility to care for these birds, because they are in my songlines.”

“Our people have a strong connection to all animals and birds – they are part of our culture, our songlines and our kinship system. If our birds are sick, we will get a really bad feeling.”

Derek and his team regularly monitor Country and collect samples to check that birds remain healthy.

“Keeping our Country healthy is very important. If some birds get sick, more birds could get sick. Everyone should keep an eye on Country to make sure it’s healthy, not just rangers.”

Have you ever wondered how backyard chicken keepers help keep Australia safe from H5 bird flu?

Meet Anne! Living on a small property, Anne has embraced the joy of raising chickens 🐔. Their coop, lovingly called “Fowlcatraz,” is not just a home for their birds but also a place where family memories are made.

“Our granddaughter is four and she has grown up loving the birds. She pats them, hand feeds them and yells eggs the moment she sees the nest boxes. Watching her laugh as they follow her around the paddocks is pure joy.”

“It would be devastating to see bird flu affect birds in Australia. We have so many beautiful species, and our own chickens are very much part of our family. ”

Anne knows that keeping her flock safe is crucial. With simple habits like storing feed properly and washing hands after handling the chickens, she plays her part in protecting these beautiful creatures.

Together, we can help to keep our birds safe from H5 bird flu.

📅 Arriving soon: ABARES June quarter Agricultural Commodities & Australian Crop reports.

Expect:
- Analysis of the impacts of the Middle East conflict on agriculture
- Market updates and forecasts
- Insights into how seasonal conditions are shaping agricultural sector production and performance

Both reports will be released on the ABARES website Tuesday 2 June at 8am (AEST) instead of 12:01am to better align with Australian business hours and enable more timely responses to stakeholder queries. The new time will be adopted for the subsequent quarterly reports. 👇

We’d like to meat you!

Don’t miss your chance to apply for a meat inspector traineeship.

This is your opportunity to get hands-on experience and formal training to become a qualified meat inspector.

Our inspectors play a vital role in supporting Australia’s multibillion-dollar export industry to ensure our meat products meet strict international standards.

Enjoy a competitive salary, 15.4% superannuation, shift and penalty allowances, and more.

Applications close 22 May 2026.

Did you know that monitoring wild birds is key to preventing outbreaks of H5 avian influenza (bird flu)? Meet Charlotte and Christina! They’re out in the field ensuring both our domestic animals and native wildlife are safe.

Charlotte explains, “By understanding what’s happening with wild bird populations, we can detect any signs of illness early.” Christina adds that these species do not have many safe places if an outbreak occurs, which is why early detection is so important.

“Working together means we can look after both domestic animals and native wildlife, especially rare and vulnerable species.”

“Our work, from seabird rehabilitation to surveillance and sampling, strengthens Australia’s early warning system. The more we understand how bird flu moves, the better prepared we can be.”

Their message is clear: everyone can help! Keeping your domestic birds away from wild ones and reporting any unusual illnesses makes a real difference in protecting our ecosystems.

Australia remains free of H5 bird flu.

Big news for Australian agricultural exporters! 🌾 We’re excited to share that DAFF is transitioning Manual of Importing Country Requirements (Micor) to a new platform in July 2026.

This change is backed by government funding and aims to ensure continued access to importing country requirements.

Here’s what you need to know:
Most users will experience minimal disruption.
The new platform will offer a like-for-like replacement with some minor changes.
Two-factor Authentication (TFA) will enhance security for accessing protected content.

To help you prepare:
User guides and training materials will be available before the transition.
We’ll host online information sessions in June 2026—stay tuned for registration details coming in May!

Keep an eye out for updates via the current Micor portal, DAFF’s website, and our social media pages. Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for Australia’s agriculture!