Funding to allay bird flu fears

7 million dollars will be put towards the preparation for the arrival of a deadly strain of bird flu.

Australia is the only continent not have detected the H-5-N-1 strain of Avian influenza, but advocates and industry bodies warn the impacts of it would be catastrophic.

The federal government is committing the funding to bolster biosecurity measures, surveillance capabilities and to investigate the use of vaccinations in birds.

Rural reporter Emily Minney has spoken with the Federal Agriculture Minister, Murray Watt, about getting the funding out the door.