Victoria welcomes home horses

MELBOURNE - Victorian Agriculture Minister Joe Helper welcomed the first Victorian horses stranded in NSW and Queensland home to Victoria on Tuesday.
The 46 horses were being kept in the disease-free green zones in New South Wales and Queensland.
“Equine influenza (EI) is being effectively managed and we are able to facilitate safe movement of stranded non-racing, racing and competition horses back to Victoria under nationally agreed importation and quarantine protocols,” Helper said.
“Our number one priority remains keeping Victoria EI-free and we will not permit movements which compromise our state’s disease-free status.
“The horses tested negative for EI during the two-week pre-export quarantine period and will now spend one week under strict quarantine conditions at Werribee – as agreed to under national protocols.”
Helper said horses would be tested again for EI over the next week, before being released and allowed home with their owners.
“More than 600 horses have been registered with the Department of Primary Industries by owners wanting to return them to Victoria from New South Wales and Queensland,” Helper said.
“Our focus is on observing the safety protocols which enable these stranded horses to return home while mitigating the risk of EI entering the state.”
A further 66 horses from the purple zone in NSW arrived in Victoria today. These horses have all recovered from EI and have met strict conditions for movement, including blood testing to prove they are immune to EI. The horses will be quarantined at the Inglis complex in Oaklands.
Helper said strict biosecurity measures would remain in place.
“Movement of horses to Victoria is still banned without a Victorian permit,”
Helper said.
“Heightened public vigilance and compliance is still the key to ensuring the disease is not transmitted to Victoria’s healthy horses.”
Offenders who attempt to illegally bring horses across the border face fines of up to $24,000 and two years imprisonment. DPI can take possession of horses.
For further information on permit applications for moving horse equipment and horses across Victorian borders, contact 1800 678 779.