More Debate Over Horse Disease Levy

A debate over how future horse disease outbreaks will be paid for has not gone away, despite the horse industry agreeing on a plan.

 

The 2007 outbreak of horse flu cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and government and industry have struggled to reach agreement on cost sharing ever since.

 

Last year, the Opposition voted against legislation for a compulsory horse levy, because of concerns from recreational horse owners that a levy would disadvantage them.

 

But this week, the horse industry, including racing and recreational groups, agreed to sign an Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement, meaning the Government and industry will share costs for any future disease outbreaks, like horse flu.

 

The plan is to share the costs by putting a levy of about 50 cents on manufactured feed and wormers.

 

But the Stock Feed Manufacturers' Council of Australia's John Spragg says his organisation will lobby the Government to ensure a levy is not added to stock feed.

"We see it as inequitable, both for horse feed manufacturers as well as horse owners," he said.

 

"The problem is that it's only applying to manufactured feeds, not all feeds.

 

"So owners who buy their own feed and mix it, pay no levy, and the owners of horses who bought manufactured food will pay the levy."

 

Story: abc.net.au