On 2 September 2007, the then Prime Minister and the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry announced that there would be a full, independent inquiry into the outbreak of equine influenza in Australia in August of 2007.
The Quarantine Amendment (Commission of Inquiry) Act 2007, which received Royal Assent on 24 September 2007, amended the Quarantine Act 1908 to provide for the appointment of a person to conduct an inquiry into the outbreak of equine influenza. On 25 September 2007, the Hon Mr Ian Callinan AC was appointed Commissioner by the then Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry under section 66AY of the Quarantine Act 1908.
Section 66AZE of the Quarantine Act 1908 provides that most of the provisions of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 apply to the Inquiry and the Commissioner as if the Inquiry were a Royal Commission.
The Commissioner has presented his report to the Hon. Tony Burke MP, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.