Class action likely over horse flu

The final report into how horse flu entered Australia will be handed to Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke today.

But even before it's tabled in parliament, a class action against Government agencies looks likely.

After six months and 80,000 documents, the horse flu inquiry has ended with Commissioner Ian Callinan delivering his single volume on time to the government.
But legal proceedings are far from over.
Partner with lawyers Atwood Marshall, Jeff Garrett, who represented livestock transporters and farriers in the inquiry, says he is ready to file a class action for 350 clients who suffered loss after the outbreak.
"We've been working very hard to asemble the various components of their claims, so that we are ready to proceed as soon as the findings are handed down by the inquiry," he said.
Interim recommendations from the Commissioner have already put the Commonwealth on notice that its entire quarantine system is facing a major shake-up.
It is not known if, or when, Mr Burke will make public the inquiry's final report. Click here to read the full story

Government receives Equine Influenza Inquiry Report

The Hon. Tony Bur ke MP
Minister for Agricul ture, Fisheries and Forestry
M E D I A R E L E A S E

Government receives Equine Influenza Inquiry Report

The Commissioner of the Inquiry into the Outbreak of Equine Influenza in Australia in August 2007, the Hon. Ian Callinan AC, has provided his report to the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke.

The Commissioner was appointed by the previous Government in September 2007 to investigate the outbreak of equine influenza.

He was asked to report on the circumstances contributing to the outbreak of the disease and on the need for any strengthened biosecurity procedures for the quarantine management of imported horses.

Mr Burke said he would consider Justice Callinan's report and findings in detail before providing a public response.

"I will take the time needed to thoroughly review the report before making any comment or decision on the recommendations," Mr Burke said.

"It is my intention that the report will be publicly released once it has been considered by the Government."

Following the release of the report, the Government will consult with a range of industry sectors on the future handling of imported horses, including the racing, breeding and recreational sectors.

24 April 2008 DAFF08/047B

Thoroughbred industry urges horse flu report release

The Hunter's thoroughbred breeding sector is urging federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke not to delay releasing the equine influenza inquiry report, which is now with his department.

The independent inquiry heard several weeks of evidence from quarantine officials, stud representatives and riders involved in an event at Maitland, which is blamed for the virus escaping into the wider horse population.
The final report has been sent to Mr Burke.
Thoroughbred Breeders Australia president John Messara is hoping the document is released soon.
"I'd say the sooner the better. I think we need to sort ourselves out and know exactly where the industry stands, and in fact where the shortfalls have been, and how they're going to be remedied," he said.
"We're getting back into the shuttle season. It's on again in the next couple of months, horses are beginning to come out here and we need to be planning."

Click here to go to the ABC Newcastle website

Aust needs quarantine boost: Callinan

The author of a report into the equine influenza crisis says Australia's quarantine measures need to be strengthened significantly to protect the country from another outbreak.

The horse flu epidemic crippled the racing and horse industries in Queensland and New South Wales last year.

Former High Court judge Ian Callinan handed his report to the Federal Agriculture Minister yesterday.

The Federal Government says it will not publicly release the report into the equine influenza crisis until it has been properly considered.

In a statement, Agriculture Minister Tony Burke said he had received the report and would take the time needed to thoroughly review it before making any decision on the recommendations.

While traveling in regional Queensland today, Mr Callinan said international quarantine measures also needed improvement. Click here to go to the ABC News website

Notebook sheds light on Phar Lap mystery

A handwritten notebook of tonics used by the trainer of legendary racehorse Phar Lap, which may shed new light on his death from poisoning, has sold at auction for $37,000.

The 82-page notebook, which belonged to Phar Lap's trainer Harry Telford, provides the first written proof of the tonics and ointments he used on racehorses.

Twenty-eight of the homeopathic recipes in the notebook were written in Telford's hand, with two others added by his track-work jockey, Ernie Fellows, auctioneer Charles Leski of Charles Leski Auctions in Melbourne said.

Ingredients of some of them include arsenic, strychnine, belladonna, cocaine and caffeine - poisonous in large amounts but used to give horses an extra edge in the days before swabbing.

Phar Lap won 37 of his 51 starts, including 14 wins in a row and the 1930 Melbourne Cup.

He went to the United States in 1932, accompanied by his strapper and stand-in trainer Tom Woodcock.

The big red won his first race on US soil but died at the Menlo Park racetrack in California on April 5.

Conspiracy theories flourished, including suggestions gangsters killed off the champion Australian-owned, New Zealand-bred gelding.

But on his deathbed in 1985, Woodcock admitted Phar Lap might have died from ingesting too much of one of his tonics.

Mr Leski said the notebook was sold among a range of sporting memorabilia.

It was purchased by Museum Victoria, which has displayed Phar Lap's hide and other memorabilia since 1933.

Four bidders drove the price from the minimum bid of $7,500, with the final price well exceeding the estimate of $10,000 to $20,000.

"It's the first time that we have had, in writing, confirmation that caffeine, cocaine, belladonna, strychnine - all of them we think of as poisons - were actually used by Harry Telford in the maintenance of his horses," Mr Leski told AAP.

"In strictly measured doses and mixed in with other feed, presumably these served the purpose of being a stimulant and didn't adversely affect the horses.

"But if Phar Lap had been unwell in the trip over to America or if he had been in the hands of more than one person in the US, it's possible the dosage wasn't strictly adhered to and it would appear he overdoses on a concoction that was considered good for him.

"This was considered quite normal at the time."

Two riders preselected for Olympics

Sydney Olympian Kristy Oatley and fellow rider Edwina Alexander have been pre-nominated for the Australian Olympic equestrian team to compete at the Beijing Games.

The Equestrian Federation of Australia announced the pre-nomination of two riders and a shortlist of potential dressage qualifiers.

Oatley and her horse Quando-Quando were nominated by dressage selectors after a number of solid international performances.

Showjumping selectors gave Alexander the nod as well, and will name which horse she will ride at the Games when they announce the rest of the team nominations on July 4.

Alexander has three horses in contention, Isovlas Pialotta, Isovlas Socrates and Isovlas Itot du Chateau.

Heath Ryan has been added to the Australian dressage Olympic shadow team on Greenoaks Dundee.

The Olympic equestrian events will be held in Hong Kong from August 9-21.

Australian Dressage shortlist for Olympic Games:

Rider Horse

Mary Hanna Port Said 10

Mary Hanna Rambo

Kristy Oatley Quando-Quando

Kristy Oatley Don Bolero

Brett Parbery Victory Salute

Rozzie Ryan Donna Carrera

Maree Tomkinson Lanzaro

Heath Ryan Greenoaks Dundee