David Obendorf

David Obendorf lives in West Hobart. He is a veterinarian specialising in study of animal disease. He came to Tasmania in the early 1980’s and has a special interest in diseases of wildlife. In 1994 he was appointed to the Scientific Advisory Committee of the World Animal Health Body - the Office of International Epizootics - in recognition of his wild disease expertise.

After a 17-year career with the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industry Water & Environment, David resigned having publicly exposed the consequences of restructuring and downsizing the State’s animal health capabilities. In 2002, in the wake of the Foot & Mouth Disease outbreak in Europe, the then Minister for Primary Industries, Water & Environment David Llewellyn commissioned David to prepare a comprehensive report to government on repairing the structural and operational deficiencies that would give Tasmania greater confidence in the face of a serious exotic animal disease emergency. The report was accepted within three months and Minister Llewellyn stated that all 35 recommendations would be implemented.

His current interest is in protecting the Social, Economic and Environmental values of his island state through the development of a workable Biosecurity Framework supported by legislation. Currently David is involved in survey of Tasmanian wetlands for another new disease, this time in our frogs.