News & Media

24 September 2007 Strict Conditions on Horse Movements into WA - Update

In response to the Department of Agriculture and Food (DAFWA) media release of last Friday, Racing and Wagering Western Australia (RWWA) today announce;

Whilst an embargo on the movement of horses from all interstate areas is the safest method to ensure Equine Influenza (EI) is kept out of Western Australia, this may not be an achievable working solution for the racing and equestrian industries.

Recognising DAFWA has introduced a policy for the movement of un-infected horses from un-infected states, RWWA's main concern relates to the management and control of horses being transported into WA.

RWWA Chief Executive Officer Mr Richard Burt said, "due to the elevated risk the Western Australia racing industry is now faced with as a result of the movement of horses from interstate, DAFWA and WA racing and equestrian participants have a great deal of responsibility to ensure EI doesn't enter our state".

The key issue at this point is how the new conditions on movement will be communicated and enforced to all racing and equestrian stakeholders in Western Australia and other states.

Following the DAFWA release last Friday, RWWA has requested a combined racing industry/DAFWA meeting be held this week to ensure an effective communication strategy is provided to all racing participants. In addition, RWWA will be asking DAFWA for their strategies to manage and enforce the movement conditions of horses from interstate to WA. It is anticipated a meeting will be held on Wednesday 26 September 2007."

Information on applying for permits to move horses into WA is available from the Department of Agriculture and Food website http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/.

Mr Richard Burt
Chief Executive Officer