A deadly avian disease that has wreaked havoc on wildlife across the world has been confirmed on mainland Australia for the first time.
Detection of the H5 strain of bird flu was announced on Saturday after a sick brown skua was found on a remote beach in Cape Le Grand National Park near Esperance, about 700km southeast of Perth.
This strain has already killed millions of animals and could threaten Australia's native wildlife and farmed animals but Agriculture Minister Julie Collins said the government had been planning for its spread.
"We all knew that we couldnt be (H5) bird flu free forever," she told reporters.
"Whilst disappointing, this is not unexpected given the global spread of the H5 bird flu virus.
