Melbourne Royal Show could cancel poultry exhibition amid bird flu fears

H5N1 bird flu spread threatens Melbourne Royal Show poultry exhibiton Sun 9 Aug 2026 at 7:14am In short: The Melbourne Royal Show committee is expected to meet as early as Monday to discuss whether poultry exhibitions will take place at this year's show. In some parts of the state, producers with more than 50 birds must house their flock for 14 days under orders from Victoria's chief veterinary officer. The poultry exhibition has been cancelled at the show only a handful of times: most recently in 2024 due to an outbreak of avian influenza. Victoria's iconic agricultural show could be without bird exhibitions and poultry competitions as avian flu spreads across the state. The Melbourne Royal Show is understood to be meeting on Monday to discuss the upcoming show and whether the exhibitions will be scrapped for the second time in three years. The show, scheduled for September 24 to October 4, traditionally brings hundreds of birds together at the poultry pavilion for exhibitions and judging. Victoria's chief veterinary officer introduced on Friday a temporary poultry housing requirement in high-risk areas, requiring poultry owners with 50 or more birds in metropolitan Melbourne, coastal areas, and some neighbouring areas to house birds to reduce contact with wild birds. There are now 215 confirmed cases of H5N1 bird flu in wild birds across Australia, but no detections have been confirmed in poultry. Breeders fear birds will be put at risk The Victorian Poultry Fanciers Association (VPFA) said it expected the Melbourne Royal Show to cancel the bird exhibitions at Monday's meeting. VPFA secretary Andrea Beaty said even with ramped-up biosecurity protocols across the south of the state, exhibitors did not want to risk their flocks. "I've got years of breeding in my birds, and I'm not losing that," she said. Ms Beaty said as a poultry breeder she had started to house her birds inside a shed as a preventative measure. "I've been talking to VPFA members, and their feeling is to cancel further shows. The cases are increasing on a daily basis," she said. "As for the Melbourne Royal [Show], I work there as an attendant. My advice is they're having a meeting on Monday; I suspect that show will be cancelled. We're six to seven weeks out, there are a lot of cases, and I don't think they'll get the patronage of the exhibitors." It is not the first time a biosecurity threat has shut down exhibitions at the Melbourne Royal Show. In 2024, an outbreak of avian influenza shut down poultry exhibitions as organisers tried to curb the spread of the disease. Melbourne Royal Show general manager Hannah von Bibra said the health and welfare of animals, exhibitors and visitors to the show was the number one priority, with the show committee working with Agriculture Victoria to assess the unfolding risk. "As the situation is still currently evolving, Melbourne Royal will take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all animals, exhibitors and visitors to the show, and will make any decisions regarding our competition based on the advice from our partners," she said. It follows an announcement on Friday that the Royal Adelaide Show would be cancelling its bird competitions ahead of next month's events due to bird flu concerns. Biosecurity the best defence: Victoria's chief vet There are 47 positive cases of H5N1 flu in wild birds in Victoria, with new detections at Yambuk, Apollo Bay and Clyde, in addition to known areas around Portland and Nelson. Free-range egg farmers who move their hens indoors to protect them from H5 bird flu can continue to label and sell their eggs as free range. Victorian chief veterinary officer Graeme Cooke said reducing contact between poultry and wild birds was "one of the most effective ways to lower the risk of the disease entering a flock". Dr Cooke said producers were urged to maintain stringent biosecurity practices. "This housing requirement provides an additional layer of protection in areas of increased risk," he said. Southern NSW and Northeast Victorian Poultry auctioneer Braham Metry said the restrictions posed a problem for free-range producers with large flocks. "If you've got large commercial flocks, they've got to have enough shedding," he said. "You can't build a chook shed overnight. If you've got 25–30,000 free-range hens and if you don't have the facilities to have them shedded permanently, you have got a problem." He said the industry was well prepared from the previous H7 outbreak but that producers would be forced to "go with the flow". "Whatever will happen, will happen," Mr Metry said. "Last time we had bird flu, they shut all the auctions, I worked months without an income. No compensation if they close it down, so you just have to go with the flow. It's not worth worrying about." Victorian Farmers Federation president Ryan Milgate said bird flu was not a surprise to the industry. "It's something they've been watching closely for the last couple of years to be honest, with it moving around the world," he said. "They've had a lot of time, and they're putting a lot of effort into being prepared and doing everything they can to make sure they can protect their birds and their farms as best as possible." The new housing requirement is a change for some producers, but Mr Milgate said it was "the best possible defence at the current time against the bird flu for these guys". "They're willing to do whatever it takes to protect their birds and their businesses," he said.