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28 February 2008
Racehorse owners say no to EI Bill
The Australian Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners Council, representing 100,000 racehorse owners, has slammed as outrageous any idea that they might be billed for the Government’s costs of eradicating EI.
“Without in any way pre empting what findings may be made by Ian Callinan AC, after three months of evidence there doesn’t seem to be any skerrick of doubt that EI got into the Australian horse population because Eastern Creek Quarantine Station was a shambles.
That being the case it is the Commonwealth Government that has to wear the responsibility for it, and that includes footing the bill for cleaning up the mess. Asking racehorse owners to pay for it is just ludicrous – that would be like the fire brigade setting fire to your house and then sending you the bill for saving it.
Obviously, the gross failings at Eastern Creek are not the current Government’s fault, but unfortunately this falls into the category of an inherited problem.
Palming off the bill to racehorse owners is just not an acceptable option.”
Wayne Milner
Chairman
Australian Racehorse Owners Council
Phone: 0411 754 949
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