MORGAN PARK DEPARTURE DATE TO BE CONFIRMED TOMORROW

The Department of Primary Industries & Fisheries (DPI&F) has taken a significant step towards finalising a departure date for all horses that have been under quarantine at Morgan Park, Warwick for the past five weeks.

However, DPI&F Minister Tim Mulherin said as Queensland’s Equine Influenza eradication program was part of a national response, the department was seeking an expression of support for the Morgan Park departure plan from the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease (CCEAD), which was expected at a national teleconference at 11am tomorrow.

“DPI&F has strongly recommended to CCEAD, which represents all government and industry stakeholders, that all horses at Morgan Park be allowed to leave on Tuesday 2 October,” he said.

“The Director-General DPI&F Jim Varghese has raised this matter for urgent consideration by the National Management Group to ensure a prompt decision.

“In this case DPI&F is very keen to see the AUSVETPLAN plan upheld, which states that horses can be moved off the premises 30 days after the onset of signs in the last case of equine influenza.

“The Department has developed a comprehensive plan to facilitate an orderly departure from the site while observing all the appropriate biosecurity measures.

“DPI&F is very conscious of the urgent need to give those people who have been at the Morgan Park site for the past five weeks some certainty about a departure date, and we are working hard to confirm that as soon as possible.”

Contact: Julie Dahl Sunday 30^th September only on 0408 879 640

David Potter Monday 1^st October on 0409 305 662