Australia Plans to Lift Parrot Import Ban
The 1995 ban on live imported psittacines could be lifted, drawing warnings from conservationists about the threat to native birds.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Birds
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Should Australia lift its ban on imported parrots despite disease risks to native birds?
The Australian Government plans to lift its 1995 ban on imported live psittacines, a restriction introduced to limit the spread of avian diseases. The Invasive Species Council has warned that imported parrots could expose threatened gang-gang cockatoos to new pathogens.
Why it matters
Zoos and pet owners lobbied for decades for the ban to be lifted, while conservationists argue that the last time parrot imports were allowed, Australia was introduced to two novel pathogens. The change would matter to native bird populations already under pressure, including gang-gang cockatoos in the Australian Capital Territory.
The ban on imported live psittacines has been in place since 1995, and the Invasive Species Council estimates only around 25,000 gang-gang cockatoos remain after the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires. The planned change would allow live parrot imports from across the world, and it is unclear how quarantine measures would address emerging disease risks.
The players
Invasive Species Council
An Australian conservation advocacy organisation that campaigns against the environmental harm caused by invasive species.
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
The Australian Government department responsible for agriculture, fisheries, forestry, biosecurity and import quarantine policy.
The details
Under the planned change, live parrot imports would be permitted from around the world, with quarantine requirements used to manage disease risk. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry describes parrot bornavirus as one of the greatest threats to endangered parrots, and scientists continue to identify new parrot viruses and variants of known diseases.
Timeline
1995: The ban on imported live psittacines was introduced.
2019-20: The Black Summer bushfires wiped out a large portion of the gang-gang cockatoo population.
7 November 2026: The government plan to lift the ban was reported.
Season Trajectory
The 1995 ban on imported live psittacines has shaped Australia's approach to avian disease for nearly three decades. Lifting it would reverse that policy at a time when gang-gang cockatoos are already recovering from the Black Summer bushfires.
Bird owners and prospective buyers may find that a wider range of live parrots becomes available if the ban is lifted. Quarantine requirements would determine how imported birds are screened for disease before they enter the country.
The takeaway
Anyone considering a pet parrot should keep up with quarantine and biosecurity rules as the import policy changes. Supporting native bird conservation remains important while these decisions are made.
Further reading
For more on Australia's bird species and their care, explore the Birds section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Region Canberra.
Live Poll
Should Australia lift its ban on imported parrots despite disease risks to native birds?
