“IT WAS A huge win for the Queensland breeding and racing industry.”
That was how Toowoomba based Thoroughbred Breeders President, Basil Nolan described a parliamentary inquiry that last week found Hendra Virus vaccinations should not be made mandatory.
It was one of eleven recommendations made by the Agriculture and Environment Committee, following its eight month inquiry into the Hendra Virus vaccine and workplace practices by veterinarians.
“This is great news for breeders, and the racing industry,” said the TBQA President.
“The TBQA was extremely concerned about the financial burden of mandatory vaccination, along with the uncertainty of its effects on broodmares, foals and racehorses.
“The research is still in its infancy, and we felt there was insufficient evidence to force vaccination upon the industry.
“We believe this was more of a revenue raising exercise for vets and the drug manufacturing company.”
The TBQA lobbied both the State and Federal Governments extensively for research into HeV and the development of a vaccination, after the death of Rockhampton vet, Alister Rodgers in 2009.
“We were one of the leaders in the fight to find the cause and a treatment for the virus and we definitely do not want to see any more deaths, however we could not support mandatory vaccination,” said Mr Nolan.
Mr Nolan acknowledges the dangers vets face when treating sick horses, but said that everyone who has contact with a sick horse, from stud staff to strappers, face the same dangers.
“Everyone needs to be mindful of the deadly Hendra Virus and always wear PPE and follow strict hygiene procedures when treating a horse,” said Mr Nolan.
“We are all well aware of this virus now, and we can all take precautions to ensure there are no more fatalities.”
Other recommendations by The Agriculture and Environment Committee include changes to workplace safety laws to limit the liability of veterinarians when treating horses that may have the virus.
Committee Chair and MP for Gladstone, Glenn Butcher, says the inquiry recommendations are about saving lives.
“Hendra virus remains a risk for horses wherever there are flying foxes. Horses that get infected generally die. If people get the virus from infected horses they will likely die too, and there is no cure.”
“Vaccinating against the Hendra virus remains the most effective option for preventing horse and human deaths from the virus, according to biosecurity, workplace safety and health experts.”
“If people stop vaccinating their horses, we will see deaths from Hendra virus in Queensland again’’, he said.
Seventy-seven horses and four people have already died from the virus since 1994.
The committee has also supported the rights of veterinarians to refuse to treat unvaccinated horses.
The committee called for more reporting of adverse vaccine reactions by horse owners to the regulatory body, the Australian Pesticide and Veterinary Medicines Authority, and reminded vets of their obligation to provide horse owners information about the vaccine and risks of adverse reactions
It also called for temperature indicators on the vaccine’s packaging to show whether it has been stored correctly and for support from the government for the development of a rapid stall-side test for the virus and a feasibility study to examine whether exclusion testing for the virus can be performed in North Queensland as well as in Brisbane to give quicker test results for North Queensland samples.
Some veterinarians, especially in country and provincial Queensland have refused to treat horses if they had not been vaccinated against the virus. But there has not been a 100 per cent support from all vets either. Some continue to treat unvaccinated horses and other vets will treat a horse if owners pay for a special protective plastic once- only suit kit.
One prominent northern based vet says she has around 60 horses on her property- and not one is vaccinated.
A Rockhampton trainer claims he has lost two young horses that he said died after vaccination.
The feeling amongst many trainers, owners and breeders is that if government wants all horses vaccinated-they should finance it.
WHILE Queensland breeders hail the Hendra Virus decision a big win for racing in this state – so too is the pending merger of Tatts - or the takeover of Ubet by TABCORP.
It now only leaves TABCORP to take over the WA tote - still owned by WA government - and Australia has a virtual National Tote.
Many are convinced it is the only way to go if this country is to survive the bombardment by the corporate bookmakers of our racing and gaming industry.
And the following might well indicate just how powerful they are as they continue to treat Australian punters with contempt.
A punter, we will call him Ashley, placed a sports multiple bet with a corporate bookmaker last month and when San Diego won the last leg of his multi he was to collect $7621.65 from an outlay of $1500.
But after the corporate accepted and CONFIRMED the bet, they then reneged. The corporate bookmaker cancelled the bet because they claimed the flexi double “was displayed at an incorrect price” and referred to rule 15 (a to c) on their website. So what? you might well ask.
Ashley is an old bookie’s clerk. He knows the rules. And let the corporate bookmaker know in plain Aussie racecourse language. He also contacted this column, and armed with the relevant exchange of emails between the bookie and the aggrieved punter I rang said corporate bookmaker for a comment.
They didn’t ring back but contacted Ashley with an apology “for the inconvenience” and an offer of $2000 in free bets.
In Australia a bet is a bet once it is accepted and a ticket (or receipt) is written. And Ashley has three of them – all worthless.
It is amazing that these corporates can spend millions wooing punters through blanket media advertising. Then treat them like Ashley. Really, do we need them?
Hong Kong, Singapore and Japan don’t. In fact, the off course bookies are barred in each of these world class racing centres.
As, in my opinion, they should be here. Or at least they should work under the same rules and conditions as every other Aussie bookie - or what is left of them.
