MOVING HORSES ILLEGALLY COSTS MAN $2000

A 37-year-old Canberra man caught illegally moving horses under the veil of darkness has been fined $2000 in Queanbeyan Local Court, Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald said today.
“The man used a horse float to illegally move two horses from Murrumbateman in NSW to Victoria on 28 September,” Minister Macdonald said.
“Queanbeyan court heard he moved two riding ponies interstate to Victoria via a back route near Bombala.
“The man was fined for contravening an equine influenza control order under the Exotic Disease of Animals Act 1991.
“When the rest of the horse industry was working hard to stop the spread of EI this man was undermining their effort and the whole eradication campaign.”
Minister Macdonald said if the horses were infected with the flu, the illegal movement could have potentially spread EI into new parts of NSW and also Victoria, which is free from horse flu.
“This is a timely reminder that that there is no room for complacency when it comes to this contagious disease,” he said.
“The NSW DPI continues to work closely with NSW Police Force Rural Crime Investigation Unit to monitor compliance of existing regulations on horse movements.”
Meanwhile, a matter involving a 47-year-old man who allegedly moved a horse illegally during the EI horse standstill imposed by the NSW DPI is due to be heard at Boggabilla Local Court today.