Horse flu debrief highlights need for better communication

A Tamworth-based Department of Primary Industries (DPI) equine flu debriefing has identified problems with the ability to communicate information effectively during the crisis.

The session was one of 12 being held across New South Wales to evaluate the department's response to the biosecurity situation.
The Australian Quarter Horse Association has described it as a collaborative process that included a frank and open assessment of the DPI's performance.
Association general manager Hunter Jones says the debriefing recognised a need for a better communications strategy.
"One of the things that came up was that most of the breed organisations such as ours work on a postcode system where the Government works on local government ... codes if they are primary produces," he said.
"So ... the meshing of data to be able to contact people quickly and readily was a real problem till at least October, November last year and there was certainly a well understood belief that more detailed information about where horse properties may have been was going to be of a great asset to them."