Travelling Horse Statement needed for Sydney Show

WITH the horse competition in full swing at the Sydney Royal Show, NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) inspectors will be out in force to police Travelling Horse Statement (THS) compliance.

"Although NSW is free of equine influenza (EI), traceability remains important until our freedom status is confirmed and accepted internationally," NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald, says.

"Traceability depends on accurate THS movement information being provided for all horse movements in NSW, including the Royal Easter Show.

"DPI inspectors will be on hand at the show to ensure horses attending the Royal Easter Show for both competitive and demonstration events arrive with a valid THS."

Mr Macdonald says THS compliance monitoring had stepped up since movement restrictions were eased at the end of February and would continue as long as traceability remained an important precaution.

"The good news is that there has been almost 100pc THS compliance at recent events attended by DPI inspectors in both country areas and the Sydney basin," he says.

"A THS must be carried on the journey when moving horses by vehicle, or travelling to or from any horse event, whether a small social gathering or prestigious competition such as the Royal Sydney Horse Classic at the Royal Easter Show.

"All horse events must be registered and the event number recorded on each THS before attending an event, so it is important for event organisers to register early."

* Travelling Horse Statements and event registrations can be lodged online at www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/equine-influenza or by calling 1800 675 888.

No EI compensation

Parkes Shire Council will continue to support the Parkes P A and H Association in its quest to seek compensation for the cancellation of last year’s annual show because of the Equine Influenza (EI) outbreak.

However, Mayor Robert Wilson doesn’t hold out much hope from a state or federal level – believing both parties will continue to pass the buck ‘from here on in.’

The three day Parkes Show had to be cancelled after a horse that had been floated to Parkes from a stable at Sydney’s Centennial Park was diagnosed with the virus on the eve of the show’s launch.

A quarantine order lasting many months was placed on the showground by the Department of Primary Industries.

Mayor Wilson said that if neither government comes forward with financial assistance, then the show society may have to look at taking legal action against the horse owner responsible for the EI outbreak at the showground.

‘The show society has to be assisted in some way – they will never recover from the debt incurred through the loss of revenue that resulted from last year’s cancellation,’ Cr Wilson said.

Council has made two representations on behalf of the Show Society to State Minister for Primary Industries Ian Macdonald through Local Independent Member for Dubbo, Dawn Fardell.

The latest reply from Mr Macdonald did not go down well with council.

In a letter tabled at the most recent council meeting, Mr Macdonald said that if the Parkes PA and H Association wished to seek financial assistance, they should do so through their Federal Member (John Cobb).

‘The Federal Government provided grants for non-government, not-for-profit equestrian organizations which suffered losses as a result of the EI outbreak. However, I understand applications closed in January,’ Mr Macdonald wrote.

Deputy Mayor Cr Ken Keith described Mr Macdonald’s response as ‘simply passing the buck.’

The Parkes Show suffered the most from the EI outbreak.

While other shows went ahead minus the horse events, Parkes was totally cancelled resulting in a loss of tens of thousands of dollars in income and expenses to the Parkes PA and H Association.

Cr John Magill urged council to continue to pursue the matter.

‘We should thank our local State Member for her efforts on this matter. But the answer is always the same from the state government, every dealing we’ve had with them is for us to approach the federal government on the issue,’ Cr Magill said.

Councillors agreed to the recommendation – that the request be referred to the local Federal member in accordance with the information supplied by Mr Macdonald.

Department rejects application

Late last week, Secretary of the Parkes PA and H Association Kaye Bird confirmed the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry had rejected the association’s application for assistance for government grant funding.

`Grants were made available to equestrian organisations that provided assistance and services over and above the normal activities to manage and respond to the EI outbreak in Australia,’ Mrs Bird said.

`While our association has received reimbursement of expenses related to the quarantine of competitors and horses at the showground as well as two business Assistance grants to the vale of $5000 it is nowhere near compensating for the total shutdown of last year’s show.’

Mrs Bird said the irony was that throughout the three days scheduled for last year’s show the weather could not have been more perfect.

`Who knows what the final financial outcome might have been.’

Her sentiments were echoed by Association Treasurer Peter Tom who also expressed his disappointment concerning the rejection of the grant application.

`For the department concerned to indicate that our cancelled show that also resulted in the quarantining of 37 horses at the showground is not covered under the criteria `of providing assistance and services over and above normal activities’ is disappointing to say the least,’ Mr Tom said.

He said the association would continue to pursue the matter further.

Man badly hurt after horse trampling

A MAN has suffered severe facial injuries after he was trampled by a horse at Peak Crossing, southwest of Brisbane.

The 54-year-old rider is in a serious condition suffering from severe facial injuries after his horse stood on him at a property at Peak Crossing just before 11am (AEST) today.

An RACQ Careflight spokesman said a doctor and paramedics would stabilise the man on the scene before airlifting him to hospital.

comment on Basic quarantine measures would have stopped horse....

Unfortunately for all those affected by the EI outbreak, AQIS and the (former) Federal Government and their (current) employees cannot be sued for their incompetence as they have legislative protection.
It is interesting to note in this blog just how much the lack of resourcing and effective administration by the former government contributed to this whole fiasco. Let's hope the new government runs a tighter ship.