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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=150 BGCOLOR="#660000" TEXT="#F7F7FF" bgproperties="fixed" background="32400960dvldxa.jpg"> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#660033" TEXT="#F7F7FF" background="326a09e3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Queensland Horse Council Inc">Home</A></div> <div> <A HREF="mission.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Our Mission">Our Mission</A></div> <div> <A HREF="equinews.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="NEWSLETTERS eQuiNEWS">NEWSLETTERS - eQuiNEWS</A></div> <div> <A HREF="genreports.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="General Reports For Members">General Reports For Members</A></div> <div> <A HREF="news.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="News">News</A></div> <div> <A HREF="notices.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Notices">Notices</A></div> <div> <A HREF="comingevents.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Coming Events">Coming Events</A></div> <div> <A HREF="membership.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Membership">Membership</A></div> <div> <A HREF="links.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links">Links</A></div> <div> <A HREF="gallery.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Photo Gallery">Photo Gallery</A></div> <div> <A HREF="contact.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Board Of Directors">Board Of Directors</A></div> <div> <A HREF="eadrahorselevies.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="EADRA Horse Levies">EADRA & Horse Levies</A></div> <div> <A HREF="hendravirus.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Hendra Virus">Hendra Virus</A></div> <div> <A HREF="eiinfo.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="E.I. INFORMATION">E.I. INFORMATION</A></div> <div> <A HREF="ahic.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Australian Horse Industry Council">Australian Horse Industry Council</A></div> <div> <A HREF="foresttrails.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Forest Trails Access">Forest Trails Access</A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=330 width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="1" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="695" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="691"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="691" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC HEIGHT= 32 WIDTH="691"><div> <B><U>NEWS</U></B></div> <div> <B>Queensland Horse Council Inc</B></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP BGCOLOR=#FFFFCC HEIGHT= 557 WIDTH="691"><div> <B>Media Release - for immediate release                          11 June 2008</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>No Charge for Horse Industry</U></B></div> <bR> <div> The Queensland Horse Council (QHC) welcomes today's announcement by the Federal Agriculture Minister, Tony Burke that the Federal Government will not seek to recover the costs for the 2007 Equine Influenza outbreak from the Horse Industry.</div> <bR> <div> QHC President Julie de Visser says, “Our Members are still suffering financially and emotionally from the devastation that this disease has had on our Industry, today's news will provide a welcome relief to many.</div> <bR> <div> We note that the proposed levy is still on the table for future disease responses.  This has been under discussion for many years and we are facilitating discussion with our Member's in regard to their wishes.</div> <bR> <div> Whilst we acknowledge that other livestock industries are signatories to the agreement, we believe the Government does not understand that much of the so called `Horse Industry' is actually recreational.  </div> <bR> <div> We define the Horse Industry as those that derive their primary source of income from a transaction involving the actual horse.  Most horse owners support this industry by buying horses and using services such as horse trainers and riding instructors.  We believe that backyard `chook' owners are not levied in anyway and that recreational horses should be no different.</div> <div>      </div> <div>  These differences were highlighted during the recent Influenza outbreak where horse businesses suffered the greatest financial losses.  The recreational sector were still employed but suffered due to the lack of the usual social opportunities.</div> <bR> <div> It is time for the Horse Industry to think carefully about the future and to reassess itself.   </div> <bR> <div> Visit our website at <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Verdana" ><A HREF="http://www.qldhorsecouncil.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.qldhorsecouncil.com"><U>www.qldhorsecouncil.com</U></A></FONT>, email us at admin@qldhorsecouncil.com" <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Verdana" ><A HREF="mailto:" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:"><U>admin@qldhorsecouncil.com</U></A></FONT> or mail us at Box 1110 UQ Gatton, GATTON QLD 4343 for details on how to join.</div> <div>  </div> <div> FOR MORE INFORMATION regarding this press release, please contact: QHC President Julie de Visser on 0438 1892 72. </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=CENTER BGCOLOR=#330033 HEIGHT= 16 WIDTH="691"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="16" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="691" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>