Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Fisheries, Forestry and Conservation) Share this | Hansard source

We are talking here about an industry that is worth about $3.6 billion to the Australian economy and has about 10,000 commercial horses involved in it. It is a very important employer for rural and regional areas in particular. Everybody knows that we have had an outbreak of equine influenza in this country. Everybody also should know that we have acted very expeditiously in this regard and appointed Mr Callinan to oversee an inquiry into it. I suggest to Senator O’Brien that he take a deep breath and wait and see what that report indicates. If Senator O’Brien has all the answers and knows exactly how equine influenza got into Australia and knows all those responsible, can I suggest to him that he give the benefit of his evidence to the Callinan inquiry. That is the issue.

In relation to the Victorian racing industry, I do know that they have made representations to the government that some of our quarantine restrictions have, in fact, been a bit too tough from time to time.