Thoroughbred Breeders Queensland Association President Basil Nolan is disappointed both the TBQA and Thoroughbred Breeders Australia (TBA) were deliberately overlooked for this week’s Hendra Virus Science Congress in Brisbane.

The TBQA has been at the forefront of the push for a Hendra Virus vaccine as far back as 2008 and has worked tirelessly to assist Biosecurity Queensland disseminate the correct information concerning the disease since the tragic death of Dr Alistair Rogers in 2009.

We have on numerous occasions written to government bodies showing our support for the work Biosecurity Queensland and the DPI have been doing in regards to Hendra, long before this latest cluster of outbreaks and we even organized and promoted our own Hendra Virus seminar in 2009.

“The TBQA fought hard alongside the Thoroughbred Breeders Australia and Biosecurity Queensland to see this $12 million joint Government funding finally come to fruition and we do not want to see it wasted,” Nolan said.

“I believe we have some excellent ideas about where and how this funding could be best put to use and because breeders are in the frontline of this fatal disease with the daily management of horses we should be actively involved in the allocation of research funds.”

The TBQA believes some funds need to be put towards horse management research to ascertain what similar management practices have been used on the properties where the outbreaks have occurred.

“We already know bats carry the virus and shed it, but there has been no adequate research into exactly how the horses contract it,” Nolan added.  “That’s where some of this funding needs to be spent.  It would be a shame if the $12 million is allocated purely towards researching flying fox colonies and nothing on horse management practices.”

The TBQA approached Biosecurity Queensland respectfully requesting an invitation, only to be told that there were representatives from the Horse Management Association and we could address our concerns to them.

“Well that’s fine, except unlike the recreational sector, the thoroughbred industry has billions of dollars invested with tens of thousands of jobs at stake and we have legitimate economic interests to pursue,” Nolan said.

Nolan said it is extremely disappointing that Biosecurity Queensland did not invite a representative from either the TBQA or TBA despite working so closely together to raise awareness of the disease and lobby for funding.

“They were keen to have us on board at that time, now they don’t want to know about us. It is a slap in the face.”

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