Horse Industry On Track For Levy Success

On Wednesday December 1st Health Australia (AHA) provided the Federal Minister for Agriculture, , Mr Joe Ludwig, with a submission demonstrating the overwhelming support of the Australian horse industry to sign the Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement (EADRA) and to enter into any cost-sharing arrangements through a levy based on manufactured feed and wormers.

Dr Roger Lavelle, Chairman of the Horse Levy Working Group and President of the Australian Horse Industry Council said that, as an EADRA signatory the Horse Industry has a guarantee that an emergency animal disease that affects horses will be responded to quickly and effectively. Any uncertainty over management and funding arrangements is minimised. This is an exciting step on the way to legislation and is a great achievement. It is the culmination of many months of hard work and enthusiasm shown by many sectors of the industry with great assistance from AHA and the Department of Industry and Innovation NSW he said. The submission follows on from the positive findings of the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport References Committee hearing on the Australian Horse Industry and an Emergency Animal Disease Response Agreement. {sidebar id=3}The Committee found no evidence of opposition to the Australian horse industry signing the EADRA. Also the committee noted there was overwhelming support to sign up to a zero-based levy and that the most cost effective mechanism for collection of the levy is a levy on manufactured feed and wormers. This zero based levy means that no monies will be collected unless there is a response to a disease incursion and then only after any cost sharing has been finalised. These important features are at the heart of today’s submission to Minister Ludwig and this will meet the challenge of the Primary Industries Ministerial Council for the Horse Industry to come up with an agreed levy mechanism by 1st December 2010. It will be important for the Australian Horse Industry to maintain this great strength in unity over the forthcoming weeks to ensure the legislation is successful in its passage through Parliament. Visit the Australian Horse Industry Council for more information.