How suspected EI is being dealt with in Tassie

I am the owner of 6 recreational/ show horses here in Tassie. We do not compete at a high level, but all the same it is part of our normal lifestyle.

In Tassie if there are suspected cases of EI the whole state is shut down this includes;

• Race horses living on the track who have been there for ages are not allowed to be worked at the track or taken else where and worked
• Farriers are unable to work, people can't have farriers on their property or near their horses
• I can't take my children and their horses off our property
• ALL horse events are cancelled regardless of the fact that they are no where near the suspected horses
• You are hard pushed to get a Vet to your horse for anything other than suspected EI
  
  Firstly as I understand it, on the Mainland, the suspected horse is quarantined on it's property until the outcome of tests is known and it is life as usual for the rest of the state. So to me it does not make sense that here in Tassie where we have less people and horses and are more likely to account for every movement of our horses and name every horses that they have been near during incubation this locking down the whole state just does not make sense to me!
  
  Another thing that concerns me is why the DPI reacts so strictly to suspected EI when as far as the whole state has been told ABSOLUTELY NO HORSES HAVE BEEN TRANSPORTED HERE SINCE THE OUT BREAK! What humans and clothing have they conducted tests on to be able to say it lasts X amount of days on clothing, or that it can live on your shoes or even that humans can carry EI and transmit to horses.
  
  Why is it also that the DPI decides who can have vaccinations for their horses?
  
  This EI outbreak has been handled badly from the start, surely it is time that all state governments got together and came up with a national strategy to address this matter so that every state and territory are on the same page. Surely it must have occurred to the powers that be, that EI could possibly be the equine equivalent of nasty human super bus such as STREP and MARS, these are things that we live with and cope with, we don't lock down night clubs, work, shopping centres and remain imprisoned in our homes because some one that lives 150 km away is suspected of having these! So why do we with horses? Surely using universal precautions and common sense will go along way.
  
  I agree that this is a devastating a serious condition for a horse to contract, also financially devastating to owners of animals contracting this, surely it is time that EI was dealt with at a federal level and strategies to protect all states, all horse activities and lastly all horse owners as we are voters too.