Aussies announce inquiry into Equine Influenza outbreak

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has announced an independent inquiry in to the outbreak of Equine Influenza.

Ian Cullinan, a former High Court Judge, will head up the inquiry and will be given full power to find out if and where quarantine procedures were breached that enabled the disease to spread at a rapid rate.

“We are determined to find out what happened, how this disease was introduced, whether there’s been a breach of quarantine procedures and protocols,” Prime Minister Howard told www.racenet.com.au.

Mr Howard also said that there was to be an announcement in the next few days regarding further relief for the industry, including possible wage subsidies.

Already AUS$4m has been made available to cover immediate expenses, equating to AUS$1,500 per person.

The money is to be split equally between New South Wales and Queensland and also equally between the racing and harness industries.