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The sixty-six horses, as it turns out, are all thoroughbreds, all from previously infected properties, and all have previously had Equine Influenza.
While it is true that private pleasure and performance horses were also repatriated to Victoria on Tuesday these were horses that we had all been informed were coming; in fact we’ve known for at least a couple of months that the return of Victorian horses, stranded in Green zones by the EI outbreak, would happen in December.
Back track to Friday 14 December 2007. Thoroughbreds from previously infected properties in the Hunter Valley enter the William Inglis & Son quarantine facility at Newmarket to begin their three day quarantine period before transport to Victoria.
So the DPI’s, the government, Racing Victoria Ltd; all knew that this move was imminent on Friday 14 December. And given the time needed to put in place protocols for biosecurity and transport, it is safe to assume that all these departments – in particular the DPI’s – knew about this move for a considerable amount of time prior to 14 December 2007.
They told no one. And consulted no one. The planned movement of Thoroughbreds was never intended to be public knowledge.
It is likely then that if Rod Nicholson had not exposed the imminent move of Red and Purple Zone thoroughbreds across the border, we never would have known about it, especially given that the horses were already in “quarantine” – albeit at a privately owned facility – when this story broke.
Mr. Nicholson says, in his article “EI Horses Heading Into Victoria” (HeraldSun.com.au, 16 December 2007) that the 66 horses “are the first batch of hundreds being organised from the rich Hunter Valley breeders for sale in Victoria in March.
They will undergo the same quarantine protocols (three days in Sydney and three in Melbourne) before being prepared for the Victorian Premier Sale at Oaklands Junction.”
Since publication the story has been picked up by mainstream media all over Australia.
If you are not angry about this movement of racehorses, you should be. There are a lot of questions about this movement of thoroughbreds from the infected zones in the Hunter Valley. For example:
Why has the public not been kept informed by the DPI’s and / or Government about the plans to move previously infected horses – mostly racing industry at this stage – from previously infected properties in the Red and Purple Zones?
Why was it left to a mainstream news organisation (the Herald Sun, 12am, Sunday 16 Dec 2007) to make this story public some 36 hours prior to any official word from the DPI or government, especially given that, at the time the story was published, the horses were already in quarantine in anticipation of the move?
Why was official word of the move made by an interstate DPI (NSW); and additionally why was it made on the day that the horses were to be moved?
Why was the official release from the Victorian Government / DPI about the movement of these horses in Victoria made late evening on the day that the horses arrived in the state (Tuesday 18 December)?
While decisions about the movement of horses are made by the DPI’s, why does it appear that peak horse industry bodies and councils – other than Racing Victoria Limited – have not been consulted regarding the movement of previously infected horses into the state of Victoria? Or in fact why does it appear that no other peak body or council had any prior warning that this move was about to take place?
Finally, if this story had not broken in the mainstream media would we ever have been told of the movement of horses from Red and Purple Zones into Victoria?
On Tuesday 18 December I posed these questions to Dr. Hugh Millar, Chief Vet Officer, Victoria, DPI. He declined to answer.
The events surrounding this movement of racehorses into Victoria are a clear indication of the state of the industry on two counts.
Firstly, that the racing industry is bending the ear of the government to ensure its wants and needs are met, irregardless of whether this is to the benefit of the entire industry or not.
Secondly, that the government / decision makers are aware that their decisions will rouse anger and protest from the private horse sector and that they have willingly chosen to try and hide their plans from the equestrian / private owner/rider / business operator component of the industry.
Back in early October the Victorian government announced a $950,000 package which was to be used to raise public awareness about EI with the intention of assisting to prevent incursion of the virus into Victoria. Part of this was a DPI initiative to hold EI information sessions throughout Victoria in November. I wondered about this at the time although I thought that a public awareness and education campaign was probably a good thing. Now though I am not so sure about the reason behind the campaign; it has been less than four weeks since the last of those EI information meetings were held and horses have been moved from Red and Purple zones in NSW.
I know for many people the focus of their ire will be the racing industry. While I understand this I believe it is misguided for two reasons.
As an economic sector in itself the racing industry is fully entitled to run its business and try to ensure the best outcomes for its industry.
Secondly, while the racing sector is incredibly well organised, registered and regulated – enough that it can present itself as a considerable force when needed – it is not the ultimate decision maker in circumstances like these.
So who then should we be angry at?
My answer is twofold.
The obvious first choice is the government departments responsible – the State and Federal Agriculture Departments; and the DPI’s.
Every one of these departments had both the opportunity to consult with peak horse industry bodies and councils, and the opportunity to at least inform the peak bodies and councils of the events about to take place.
None of them did.
My second suggestion for ‘taking responsibility’ for this outcome is ourselves. We allowed this to happen simply because we are not organised enough to present a strong and united front for our industry.
I see organisation as the Racing Industry’s real strength; economics are just something that they use to back their arguments up. Their real power lies in having a regulated, registered industry that speaks in numbers of people involved.
Right now is not the time to be complacent and lay responsibility on someone else.
Until the time we are prepared to come together as an industry we will continue to be disregarded by those who are in the position to make decisions.
As a $4 Billion dollar industry in ourselves – and I include everyone here from equestrian groups to business operators to unaligned private horse owners – we just got shafted. We were overlooked, ignored and dismissed.
If Rod Nicholson is correct, and I believe he is, more horses from infected areas of NSW are on their way here. It’s up to all of us now as to how we proceed.
What you can do:
1. If you are a member of a peak industry group or council (EFA, PCAV, AHIC etc) write or phone your organisation and ask them to request full disclosure from government departments about the intended importation of horses from infected areas into Victoria.
2. Express your feelings on the circumstances to your peak industry group or council and ask them to convey these feelings to the government.
3. Contact the Victorian Minister For Agriculture directly and express your views: The
Minister may be contacted through his Ministerial office. Joe
Helper, Minister For Agriculture, Victoria
4. Contact the Chief Vet Officer, DPI Victoria, Dr. Hugh Millar and express your views: Email Dr. Hugh Millar Hugh.Millar@dpi.vic.gov.au
By Geraldine Chapman - HorsePoint |
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