EI inquiry resumes Tuesday

SYDNEY – Upper Hunter Valley Stud representatives including Tom Magnier of Coolmore and Adrian O’Brien, assistant stud manager at the Jerry’s Plains property, are expected to appear at the Callinan Federal Inquiry into how Equine Influenza (EI) entered Australia.

The inquiry resumes on Tuesday in Sydney.

Counsel assisting the inquiry, Tony Meagher SC, told commissioner Ian Callinan QC that Since the inquiry began on October 3, inquiry staff had interviewed more than 150 people and in excess of 30,000 documents have already been provided to the Inquiry.

“The early witnesses will include Julian Cornter who is the Sydney flight operations manager of International Racehorse Transport; John Sunderland, the stud manager of Darley Stud, Australia; Martin Story, who is the financial controller for the Arrowfield group,” Meagher said.

“Each of these people attended the airport when these horses arrived - some once, some more than once. Mr Adrian O'Brien, who is the assistant stud manager at Coolmore; and Mr Tom Magnier, who is the business and racing manager at Coolmore and the son of the owner of the Coolmore Stud,” he said.

The inquiry will firstly hear from Dr James Gilkerson, who is the director of the Equine Infectious Disease Laboratory at the University of Melbourne.

“Dr Gilkerson will deal with the nature of the disease, how it is spread, the role that vaccination plays and the ways in which it might be detected,” Meagher said.

Three AQIS witnesses including Jenni Gordon, executive manager, quarantine with AQIS, will also give evidence.

The Equestrian Federation of Australia (EFA) was given leave to appear along with the Master Farriers Association and transport companies

Representatives of Randwick Equine Centre and the veterinarians
associated with the centre have also been granted leave to appear at the inquiry.

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