Reality Check for Horse Owners in Queensland

From 1 location "Eastern Creek Quarantine Station" over 10,000 properties (reported) have so far become infected with EI. In Queensland at the 22nd Sept, there were 243 IP's reported, spread over 6 shires. We had a complete STANDSTILL in place. From this it ripped thru 21 shires, and infected in excess of 3,000 properties, that we know of!! At the time of 'easing movement restrictions' on the 7th Dec, the DPI were busy resolving properties, thus reducing the total IP count, the reports and numbers began getting vague again. At the time of the zone changes there were still in excess of 200 NEW IP's less than 21 days old (i.e. still infective). EI is alive and well in at least 13 shires in Qld! Buffer zones are still not secure, and the DPI in their infinite wisdom are allowing movement into the buffer zones by permit. An open invitation to allow the disease into the very zone designed to stop the lateral spread of the disease. DPI has called racing precincts in the Amber Zone... 'Red Compartments' to allow race horses to travel in and out of the disease free (so far) zone without quarantine requirements. The DPI has put us all at greater risk NOW than we were 4 months ago! They couldn’t control illegal movement with a complete standstill…. Never mind illegal movements, ask the DPI how EI jumped the Bruce Highway at Burpengary… seems the DPI issued a permit for someone to move 2 horses from the middle of Morayfield where the infection is alive and burning! The under reporting from day one has been enormous, do they honestly believe people are going to report themselves as infected now, particularly if they have done the wrong thing or illegally moved horses out of infected areas and been responsible for the further spread?? How well do you know your neighbours??
I recently wrote to the EVA and the AVA, \nimploring them to stand up for our rights to protect OUR horses, without their \nmembers the TB's could never have run rough shot over us, they required \nregistered vets to administer the vaccine. Time the EVA and AVA started \ntaking care of the other 80% of their members client base. I did not \neven get a reply acknowledging my letter!! No surprise really, the vets \nand drug companies stand to make money out of this no matter how it ends up, why should their representatives (who have also been at the table since day 1) take an interest in the ANIMAL WELFARE side of this disaster?
I recently wrote to the EVA and the AVA, imploring them to stand up for our rights to protect OUR horses, without their members the TB's could never have run rough shot over us, they required registered vets to administer the vaccine. Time the EVA and AVA started taking care of the other 80% of their members client base. I did not even get a reply acknowledging my letter!! No surprise really, the vets and drug companies stand to make money out of this no matter how it ends up, why should their representatives (who have also been at the table since day 1) take an interest in the ANIMAL WELFARE side of this disaster? Cindy MSE Qld