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Destruction of the Western Australian Animal Welfare Unit

You may be aware that the Western Australian Government has all but stopped funding animal welfare activities to the State Animal Welfare Unit Inspectorate. This means that the lead agency for monitoring animal welfare for livestock has been reduced to an administrative function and the enforcement arm, the Inspectorate, is defunct.

 

I understand that the intention of the cut to funding is to turn the Animal Welfare Unit into a 'strategic administration' Unit, i.e. an inactive bureaucratic function with no opportunity to carry out animal welfare inspection to monitor compliance with the Animal Welfare Act 2003 and expose breaches to the Act

 

The loss of the Inspectorate over the past year has meant that there are no routine inspections in live export, in saleyards or in transport. From the time the animal leaves the farm to the time the animal is either exported or slaughtered, there are no Animal Welfare Inspectors ensuring compliance to the Animal Welfare Act 2002  and Codes. In the all too often event of animal cruelty and breaches of the transport codes, there is no one to call. According to the Government’s own flow chart, the Animal Welfare Unit is the lead agency to call for compromised animals.

 

Stateline is examining this major problem and will feature the story tonight: Stateline ABC at 7.30   14. May 2010

 

Please tune in and show your support to Stateline for exposing this situation by contacting them on the link:  http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/contact.htm

 

If you are unable to view the programme at the above time, Stateline stream the video and interviews on their site a day or so later: http://www.abc.net.au/stateline/wa/

 

The Animal Welfare Unit desperately needs funding so that the appropriate number of operational, proactive Animal Welfare Unit inspectors can be appointed for the work required statewide. One Inspector is obviously not able to do the work of what was previously done by 6 inspectors.

 

The Government is obliged to meet its legislative responsibilities and respect community expectation that the Animal Welfare Act is enacted and enforced. This can only occur when investigations into reported/alleged breaches of the legislation are undertaken; this can only happen when the AWU appoints more Inspectors.

 

If you are disappointed with the government’s handling of this matter, write to the Premier, Colin Barnett and cc to your own Member of Parliament as well as the others listed at the bottom of this email. It is essential that the government knows how the people of WA feel over its failure to have fully operational and proactive State Animal Welfare Unit inspectors working in the field to educate, monitor and enforce legislation and prevent the cruelty and suffering from occurring.

 

 

Premier:

 

Hon Colin Barnett MLA

Premier of Western Australia

197 St George’s Terrace

PERTH 6000