We, the undersigned, call on the Australian Government to work with all states and territories to establish or fund dedicated wildlife treatment centres in towns and regional communities across Australia.

These centres should provide:

Immediate assessment and treatment for sick, injured, or orphaned native wildlife.

Safe testing and management of animals suspected of carrying Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5N1) and other serious diseases.

Trained veterinary staff and wildlife carers equipped with appropriate protective equipment.

A public reporting and drop-off system so members of the community know where to take wildlife in need.

Too often, sick and injured wildlife are left to suffer because there are no nearby facilities able to help them. In some cases, compassionate people take wild animals home to treat them themselves. While well-intentioned, this can place both people and animals at risk, particularly if the animal is carrying a contagious disease such as H5N1.

Australia's native wildlife deserves timely, professional care. Dedicated wildlife treatment centres would improve animal welfare, strengthen disease surveillance, protect public health, and support wildlife rescue organisations and veterinarians.

We urge the Australian Government to work with state and territory governments to ensure that every Australian community has access to appropriate wildlife treatment services, so that no native animal is left to suffer without care.

One point to consider is that wildlife management and veterinary services are largely the responsibility of state and territory governments, while biosecurity (including responses to diseases like H5N1) is a shared responsibility with the Australian Government. If you submit this as a federal petition, framing it as a request for the Australian Government to provide national funding and coordinate with the states and territories is more likely to fit within the federal government's responsibilities.