Animal welfare laws in Qld Case study: Toowoomba cruelty case

Chay Neal, Executive Director Animal Liberation Queensland

Animal welfare laws Animal welfare laws come under state jurisdiction. Federal government only overseas matters such as international export (live animal export, abattoirs that export meat overseas, etc.) • Queensland: Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 Creates a duty of care to provide food, water and appropriate living conditions; allow for normal behaviour; treat illness/disease; appropriate handling. Creates offences for ‘animal cruelty’.

Full of loopholes and inconsistencies – for example: - offence to feed an animal a harmful or poisonous substances with intention of harming the animal. Yet rat baits are legal, as are horrifically painful 1080 baits used to kill wild dogs, foxes and other animals. - beating, abusing, terrifying an animal. Animals would be terrified going up to the abattoir? Or calves used in rodeo calf roping show stress? Exemptions are given for many reasons, including but not limited to practices allowed in a Code of practice.

How is it enforced? • Animal cruelty laws fall under the Department of Agriculture and

Fisheries. This is similar in most Australian states & territories (but not all).

• RSPCA Queensland and Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) have an MOU where more than ‘10 head of livestock’ are referred to BQ.

• RSPCA Qld have and do prosecute cases such as cock-fighting, puppy farms that breach necessary conditions, dog fighting rings, greyhound live baiting, rodeo cruelty, serious companion animal issues/neglect including animal hoarder cases, etc. Less serious cases RSPCA will take a softer approach to educate owners and give directives.

• Most issues relating to “livestock” or farmed animals are referred to BQ whose inspectors investigate. BQ talk about a continuum of animal welfare responses starting with education and engagement and almost never resulting in prosecution. In most cases we’ve seen or reported, the strongest action is an animal welfare directive.

RSPCA Qld prosecutions

Biosecurity Qld prosecutions

Case study: Toowoomba horses Background

8 horses – including Flagflemenco – an ex racehorse left to starve.

30+ decomposing bodies or skeletal remains of starved horses

Case study: Toowoomba horses What happened…

• Complaints lodged and investigated by Biosecurity Queensland

Case study: Toowoomba horses Outcome

• BQ says the investigation is “ongoing”. Ie. No prosecution • Horses have been relocated and remain the ‘property’ of the owner who

neglected them, despite him having a long history of animal abuse and neglect and disrespect for authority.

Other cases: Meramist Abattoir

• Regular mistreatment and slaughter failures of ex racehorses

Other cases: Yangan Abattoir

• 21 serious breeches of the law/Code of practice for slaughter – failure to stun, time between stunning and throat slit

Other cases: Wacol pig semen collection facility

• Abuse, neglect, knowingly starving an animal to death over several days. Untreated wounds, etc

Other cases: Wonga Plains Feedlot

• - Widespread preventable deaths, particularly with calves. - No shade or protection from elements, at all. - Cattle suffered in heatwaves and were so weak, they were unable to reach water, and slowly died. - Dead cattle left decaying in paddocks. - Sick cattle left untreated in pens. - Excessive use of jiggers leading to leg breaks.

Other cases: Beerburrum piggery

• Mother pig killed in front of the others. • Mutilation of baby piglets • High fatality rates

Other cases: Highchester abattoir

• Dairy industry bobby calves kicked and punched and stomped on before slaughter

More information

• Summary of Toowoomba horses case study (& action email template): https://alq.org.au/horse-cruelty-toowoomba

• Animal Liberation Qld – alq.org.au Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram

• Contact me – Chay Neal chay@alq.org.au