Expeditioners questioned decision to evacuate Macquarie Island over bird flu risk

Key points

• Expeditioners have told the government that evacuating Macquarie Island over bird flu concerns was unnecessary and could increase environmental risks. The federal environment department temporarily removed all 24 expeditioners in August, citing possible psychosocial harm from a potential outbreak of the H5 strain.
• In a letter, the expeditioners said they were trained to cope and warned that the island's ageing fuel farm could pose a hazard without staff.
• The department defended the decision, citing a risk assessment, and said H5 bird flu has since been confirmed in an elephant seal and a kelp gull on the island.