I'll be shifting focus now to the NSW state government, however it will inevitably involve discussion about the Federal government.
Case in point, the NSW Primary Industries Minister, Ian Macdonald has called on the Federal government to launch an extensive inquiry into what he is calling a 'biosecurity breach' regarding some horses imported from Japan.
A fair enough call I'd say - this equine flu is going to have massive consequences in many areas of Australian life. Firstly, the economy and employment. The government makes some serious dosh off Australia's cultural gambling. Also, coming from Newcastle, I've listened to a lot of worried stud farmers concerned about their breeding programs which are due to start at the beginning of September. If there's no horses, there's no work for many people in areas such as Scone.
Another major consequence of this flu is, for some, probably the most important - we can't go to the races! I'm sure every CSU student can appreciate the frivolity and general dizziness of a day at the races. The night before is like Christmas Eve, you can't get to sleep because your mind is in a frenzy of colour and excitement at the day ahead. The drinking, the laughing, the drinking, the hats, the suits, the drinking, the stilettos flung over the shoulder while hair is whisked out of the face making way for a steady stream of vomit, more drinking, oh yeah and the running horses... Those poor people at Birdsville this weekend, I'm sure they'll think of something...
But back to the politics, after all this is a very serious blog! The effects of the equine flu are also extending to APEC with all 32 of the police horses in lock down somewhere in Redfern. What will the riot squad use to trample on protesters now? Maybe they could use the wives of the delegates? I'm sure their faces are just as long, their hooves just as dangerous and their mounters just as vicious...
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
haha loved this post - it was enjoyable to read!
It's interesting to me because horses are somewhat of a social connector - they assist farmers and people who work on the land, are somewhat of a hobby (riders and gamblers) as well as those who enjoying strutting around in their glad rags at horse races - very wide cross section of the society.
Yeah, it's so true and I never realised until this equine flu outbreak... and the news were searching for every different news angle. From the breeders, to trainers, to riders, to stable workers, to gamblers, to caterers, to fashion designers, to fashionistas and everyone in between (even sponsors)... I didn't realise to what a great extent the horse industry impacts upon Australian society
Post a Comment