Opinion
Nearly 3 months now that Equine Influenza has shut down the entire Racing thoroughbreds Industry in NSW. The Randwick Racecourse is still in Quarantine Area. So far the inquiry made by Ian Callinan hasn’t revealed much of how the Equine Flu has plunged Australian’s multi-billion dollar racing and breeding industry into an absolute black-out.
If we take a good look at it by finding the right answers at these questions; where does the State Government stands in this matter? What has the State Government of Mr. Morris Iemma provided since the shutdown has been avowed? Why the Racing Minister has been so muted and ineffective during the outbreak? And why does the Trainers Association and the Racing NSW has to go through legal battle against the State Government?
I presume neither the politicians nor the so-called ‘diplomats’ are eligible to response favorably to these questions. I deduce they don’t even have a clue about the whole mayhem. So why are they still beating around the bush and giving big homily around the table to officials of Racing NSW and Randwick trainers?
Though the Australian Racing Board officials had warned them in the past about poor quarantine standards for overseas racehorses but guess what the message from Mr. Andrew Harding, Chief Executive of ARB, has vanished like an eclipse in the space.
And now almost half of racing population loathes the Federal Government for not taking action at an early stage of the havoc. We, strappers, trainers, farriers, jockeys, dentists, vets, owners all considered as ‘actors’ within the Racing Industry have to juggle with the consequences. In fact the situation is quite dreadful with NSW spring carnival cancelled, NSW horses are out of the Melbourne carnival, first death of the disease, around $10 million in prizemoney lost, $100 million lost in TAB turnover, horse movement banned around NSW, approximately 60,000 Australian workers lost their job, Metropolitan and provincial racecourses have been lockdown, fashion, hospitality, veterinary and retail industries are also hit and racehorse trainers has dropped their stable fees.
It’s quite deceitful to see the way State Government has tackled the issue from the beginning. How could they dare raising the point on papal visit next year which coincide with Word Youth Day celebrations when the Racing industry is still in agony? What will be the consequences of 10 weeks racing and training inactivity at Randwick Racecourse next year? To who goes the blame State or Federal Government? At this stage it seems and sounds like an absolute hogwash.
Yet the Racing Industry is still wounded but is currently recovering from the disease. Neither the $4 million Federal Hardship Fund nor $11 million compensation fund will ease the pain of the entire Racing Industry. It’s time to lay down the vaccination cards on the table and start using it wisely which I truly believe is the only practical way of preventing the spread of EI.
If they keep pulling the cord in one direction this outbreak will remind us the saga of 1945 when Australia was declared in a war known as the ‘austerity Saturday’.
Nearly 3 months now that Equine Influenza has shut down the entire Racing thoroughbreds Industry in NSW. The Randwick Racecourse is still in Quarantine Area. So far the inquiry made by Ian Callinan hasn’t revealed much of how the Equine Flu has plunged Australian’s multi-billion dollar racing and breeding industry into an absolute black-out.
If we take a good look at it by finding the right answers at these questions; where does the State Government stands in this matter? What has the State Government of Mr. Morris Iemma provided since the shutdown has been avowed? Why the Racing Minister has been so muted and ineffective during the outbreak? And why does the Trainers Association and the Racing NSW has to go through legal battle against the State Government?
I presume neither the politicians nor the so-called ‘diplomats’ are eligible to response favorably to these questions. I deduce they don’t even have a clue about the whole mayhem. So why are they still beating around the bush and giving big homily around the table to officials of Racing NSW and Randwick trainers?
Though the Australian Racing Board officials had warned them in the past about poor quarantine standards for overseas racehorses but guess what the message from Mr. Andrew Harding, Chief Executive of ARB, has vanished like an eclipse in the space.
And now almost half of racing population loathes the Federal Government for not taking action at an early stage of the havoc. We, strappers, trainers, farriers, jockeys, dentists, vets, owners all considered as ‘actors’ within the Racing Industry have to juggle with the consequences. In fact the situation is quite dreadful with NSW spring carnival cancelled, NSW horses are out of the Melbourne carnival, first death of the disease, around $10 million in prizemoney lost, $100 million lost in TAB turnover, horse movement banned around NSW, approximately 60,000 Australian workers lost their job, Metropolitan and provincial racecourses have been lockdown, fashion, hospitality, veterinary and retail industries are also hit and racehorse trainers has dropped their stable fees.
It’s quite deceitful to see the way State Government has tackled the issue from the beginning. How could they dare raising the point on papal visit next year which coincide with Word Youth Day celebrations when the Racing industry is still in agony? What will be the consequences of 10 weeks racing and training inactivity at Randwick Racecourse next year? To who goes the blame State or Federal Government? At this stage it seems and sounds like an absolute hogwash.
Yet the Racing Industry is still wounded but is currently recovering from the disease. Neither the $4 million Federal Hardship Fund nor $11 million compensation fund will ease the pain of the entire Racing Industry. It’s time to lay down the vaccination cards on the table and start using it wisely which I truly believe is the only practical way of preventing the spread of EI.
If they keep pulling the cord in one direction this outbreak will remind us the saga of 1945 when Australia was declared in a war known as the ‘austerity Saturday’.
