The Country 16/07/26: Chris Russell talks to Jamie Mackay

Our Australian correspondent tells us everything you need to know about bird flu but were afraid to ask. Plus, we talk about Winston Peters and lamb access to the US.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Okay, wrapping the country. Rather disjointed show today not of
our making, or reiterate that with her Elsie correspondent Chris Russell, Chris,
you listened to Winston Peters when we eventually got them
to air. What did you make of them? Good afternoon,
by the way, well today, how.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Are you, Jamie? Look? I was interested to hear that.
You know, it almost sounded like a repeat of much
of what we've been hearing from Pauline Hanson and the
One Nation Party here as regards to your immigration, in
particular this idea of a single culture. She got into
a fair bit of trouble talk about mono culture because
I think a lot of people had to reach for
their dictionary. But what she meant was we have one

(00:42):
culture here in Australian culture. And I heard Winston saying
we have a New Zealand culture. Of course we are
all multi racial, but you know, anyway, it was interesting
to hear that. When I was in Napier, I also
met up with a former Labor member there who is
now tied up with the first name one New Zealand
First Party, Stuart Nash. I mark the whole party, I

(01:05):
must say, Jamie, I went to a party there and
I'd say ninety percent of them need to be avid
rustled on country listeners. So it was like a reunion
which was quite good fun. Wow, but it was very
interesting hearing Stuart and of the at least hearing Winston
and also talking to Stuart when I was in Navia.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
Yeah, and you've almost made a fraudy and slip. I
think you've referenced New Zealand first as one New Zealand first.
I don't know if Winston will appreciate the comparison to
Pauline Hanson. Hey, I want to talk to you about
bird flu. It's our big story here today. It was
a matter of when, not if we've found one single
bird at the stage, I think in the you and
I was going to say in the US, getting confused myself.

(01:45):
In Australia, you've got three states.

Speaker 2 (01:48):
We've got South Australia seems to be collecting the most,
which is not surprising. We had a false alarm in
Queensland up at Noosa where they found a sick aren't
petrol sitting on the beach, but it's now to be
confirmed that was not age five in one. But there's
altogether been thirteen cases in Australia, but all of them

(02:09):
in migratory birds that have been found on beaches or
near the coast. We haven't yet seen it in where
it's been jumped into local wildlife in Australia, and certainly
haven't seen any evidence of it having crossed in a mammal.
So everyone's on high alert here. There are a lot
of volunteers being called up. One of the unfortunate things

(02:31):
is this a very well known bird observatory called the
air Bird observed she just above the Great Australian Bite
and it's been destaffed because they couldn't provide emergency evacuation
for a volunteer there when she got six. Until they
can sort that out, they've de staffed it. And yet
that was one of the critical sentinel points really for

(02:52):
migrating birds that might be coming in with bird flu.
So it's a real worry. I must say what potentially
could happen, But the authority say, look, they've been preparing
for it for a long time and let's not panicked
by all the eggs up and all the other things
that we tend to do, and let's just see as
it progresses. I think it's almost inevitable Jamie, that we
will see it here shortly.

Speaker 1 (03:13):
Yeah, ditto here. Look, let's talk about lamb Australian. In fact,
Australian and New Zealand producers are still gaining market share
in the US. They've announced this global trade investigation focusing
on lamb. How do you reckon it's going to affect
both of our countries.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Well, I think that it's a reaction to last October's
called by the US lamb producers for tars have be
put there. They've said that they are not making money,
that there's been sold from countries where it's a lot
cheaper than it is in America, and therefore it's cheaper
prices which will displace US production and also erode their profitability.

(03:52):
Most of the sheep meat going into the US actually
comes from Australia, around about one hundred thousand tons, which
is a billion dollars work last year, and currently we're
having a ten percent tariff applied under the latest tariffs
that the President has imposed. Onis But look, everyone here
is confident the demand will remain the same. It'll be

(04:15):
very interested to see what this investigation actually produces. And
I'm sure saw the sheet Produces. Australia Chief Bonnie Skinner
said the farmers would be working very hard to put
their case forward that we have a long standing relationship
and we've really developed the market and there's nothing that's
under hand or in any way it can be orientated

(04:36):
towards export dumping that could be applied to Australian ram
lamb getting into the US.

Speaker 1 (04:41):
Jamie, Okay, Chris Russell, I've got to go. Thank you
very much for your time. I was looking at all
these little river band, great Aussie band songs I've gotten
applicable to the English football team and probably the Wallabies
as well. Home on a Monday lunsome loser hang on,
help us on its way a reminiscing the guy that's
a lion or messy. So I guess I won't rub

(05:03):
it on, but good luck in the Nation's Championship. You
might need it with your Wallabies. Chris, Oh my goodness.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Absolutely, let's move on.

Speaker 1 (05:11):
Hey, thanks for your comments on the bird Flu appreciate it.
That's Chris Russell, our Australian correspondent.