Horse industry let off the hook over horse flu debt

The horse industry in Australia has been let off the hook over last year's equine influenza (EI) outbreak.

The Federal Government has decided to waver the costs of the outbreak which saw $100 million of taxpayers' money spent to curb the outbreak.

The money was spent on identifying the source of the outbreak and on enforcing quarantine zones across the country.

According to Agriculture Minister Tony Burke while most livestock industries already had measures in place to deal with the costs associated with a disease outbreak, the horse industry had been denied help from the previous Coalition Government in their requests to establish similar coverage.

This is apparently why the horse industry has been exempted from repaying the costs.

The total bill to the government is more than $342 million absorbed in eradicating the virus and in financial aid to individuals, organisations and businesses.

The decision has been welcomed by horse groups.

The Australian Horse Industry Council which oversees horse health and welfare issues, says the decision has removed a large liability that had been hanging over the industry and the Australian Racing Board says a levy would have been another a savage blow for struggling horse owners.

The minister says legislation to bring the horse industry into line is before the Parliament and is now expected to be passed.

He has urged the horse industry to agree on future levy arrangements and sign up to a national agreement.