Double Standards

An Open Letter to all state and federal members of Parliament,

Sirs and Ladies,

Can anyone tell me why all the media coverage is centred on the racing industry? I am posting this letter on the Horsedeals site because they are the only organisation to bother with the many, many thousands of horse owners who do NOT have anything to do with the racing industry. Thank you Horsedeals.

Will the various Ministers for Primary Industries please put some effort into keeping these multitute of horse owners informed about the following key issues.

1. Vaccination. If racehorses and brood mares are to vaccinated, what about all the other thousands of horses in and around racing areas? It won't work if any horses are left out of a vaccination program.

2. If it is OK to move a race horse or brood mare from one zone to another, why can't any other horses be moved, for example, if a horse was purchased prior to the standstill but cannot be delivered to its new home?

3. What about compensation for horse owners faced with agistment costs because their horse was away from home and cannot be returned or was purchased before the outbreak and the new owners are faced with high agistment charges.

4. Clubs have lost thousands in income but there is only compensation for outlays. Some clubs will not survive financially as their only income after membership fees, is from competitions. Club insurance policies are due at this time of the year, competitions are vital to raise enough money to pay for insurance.

5. Most horse owners are adhearing to restrictions. We are only concerned that we stop the spread of EI. What we need more than any thing is information. Not everone has access to a computor so please put more information out on the evening news broadcasts. If you don't tell us what is going on, how can you expect us to remain patient.

Thank you.
Penny Lane.