In September 2007, the Hon. Mr Ian Callinan AC was appointed Commissioner to conduct an independent inquiry into the outbreak of equine influenza in Australia.
The Report of the Equine Influenza Inquiry and the Government's Response was released by The Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, on 12 June 2008. The government agreed to all 38 of the report's recommendations.
Implementation plan
Professor Peter Shergold AC, former Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, has been engaged as an independent expert to provide regular external assessments of the implementation to June 2010. Professor Shergold noted in his final report that ‘The challenge of implementing new and improved quarantine procedures has been met to a high standard.’ The Department has implemented 33 of 38 recommendations. Of the remaining recommendations some have been overtaken by recommendations from the Beale review into Australia’s Quarantine and Biosecurity Arrangements and some are ongoing matters that require action in years to come. The Department’s focus is now on applying the lesson learned from EI to the import of other commodities.
Progress with implementation
Professor Shergold's first report to Minister Burke
The Hon. Tony Burke MP released the first report by Professor Peter Shergold AC on 26 November 2008. Professor Shergold reported on the implementation of the government's response to the Equine Influenza Inquiry. Minister Burke also released his response to Professor Shergold.
- Professor Shergold—First Report—Implementation of the government response
- Minister Burke's response to Professor Shergold
Professor Shergold's second report to Minister Burke
Minister Burke released Professor Peter Shergold's second report for the period November 2008 to February 2009 on 2 June 2009. He also released his response to Professor Shergold's second report.
- Professor Shergold—Second Report—Implementation of the government response
- Minister Burke's response to Professor Shergold
Professor Shergold's third report to Minister Burke
Minister Burke released Professor Peter Shergold's third report for the period March to September 2009 on 9 December 2009. He also released his response to Professor Shergold's third report.
- Professor Shergold—Third Report—Implementation of the government response
- Minister Burke's response to Professor Shergold
Professor Shergold's fourth report to Minister Burke
Minister Burke released Professor Peter Shergold's fourth report for the period October to March 2010 on 22 April 2010.
- Professor Shergold—Fourth Report—Implementation of the government response
- Minister Burke's response to Professor Shergold
Professor Shergold's fifth and final report to Minister Burke
Minister Burke released Professor Peter Shergold's fifth and final report on 26 August 2010.