BYRON BAY WILDLIFE HOSPITAL WELCOMES LABOR’S $2 MILLION ELECTION FUNDING COMMITMENT

International Fund for Animal Welfare Wildlife Rescue Program Officer Robert Leach assists Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital Veterinary Nurse Alberto Bernabe to clean a mud-caked Koala named Nima, rescued and treated collaboratively in the aftermath of ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred. Photo: James D Morgan | Getty Images.

The North Coast’s first all-species wildlife hospital has welcomed a $2 million election commitment announced by Justine Elliot and the Australian Labor Party.

Opened in 2020, Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital has treated over 9000 native animals, including hundreds of threatened mammal, avian, reptile and amphibian species from across the biodiverse North Coast of New South Wales.  Based in the Byron-Ballina hinterland, the dedicated wildlife veterinary hospital operates 7 days a week with 20 staff and over 100 volunteers. The hospital is operated by registered charity Wildlife Recovery Australia (WRA), which also operates the Byron Bay Raptor Recovery Centre.

“We are elated with this very significant announcement acknowledging the national relevance of the services we provide for Australian wildlife.” said WRA Founder and CEO Dr Stephen Van Mil.

“This funding will allow us to continue to operate a best practice wildlife hospital, provide quality care for sick, injured and orphaned wildlife, and keep skilled and qualified veterinarians and vet nurses in jobs.”

The announcement follows WRA’s joint ‘I Vote for Wildlife’ campaign with Wildlife Victoria, calling for federal and state governments to commit to establishing and co-funding a national framework for wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.

Currently in Australia, the rescue, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation of wildlife relies on charity and volunteer organisations to self-fund operations in a chronically under-resourced sector, where general practice veterinary clinics are mandated by law to see wildlife patients free of charge.

“This gives real impetus to our call for federal leadership and funding, in a framework that recognises state government legal responsibility for the protection of native animals,” said WRA Chair, economist and former Secretary to the Treasury Dr Ken Henry AC. 

It will help ensure the protection and survival of Australia’s unique flora and fauna for generations to come.”