Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland Government

Media Release 17 September 2007

$4,500 fine for illegal horse movement under stock standstill

A twenty-one-year-old stockman was today fined $4500 after pleading guilty in the Dalby Magistrates court to moving a horse without a permit during the national horse standstill.

The court recorded a criminal conviction and also ordered the defendant from Bowenville to pay court costs.

The court heard the defendant moved his horses to his home at Bowenville from a feedlot facility near Dalby on August 29.

Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (DPI&F) Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Ron Glanville said this was a serious breach of the stock standstill notice declared under the Exotic Diseases in Animals Act.

"The purpose of the stock standstill is to reduce the spread of the disease in the first few weeks after detection to allow veterinarians to assess the areas were infected horses are located and to implement control programs," he said.

"Blatant breaches of the standstill jeopardise the control program and could cost horse industries millions of dollars.

"Even worse, illegal movements could result in the disease becoming totally uncontrollable.

"I am pleased that the vast majority of the horse owners have done the right thing and have complied with the stock standstill.

Dr Glanville said as well as not moving horses, people needed to ensure that they themselves did not spread the disease.

"People who come in contact with horses need to shower with soap, shampoo their hair, disinfect boots, hats and clothes, and stay away from other horses," he said.

For more information on equine influenza in Queensland visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au/equine-influenza or call 13 25 23.