June
15 2006
LIVESTOCK AND
LIVE EXPORT AGENTS ROBERTS ON ANIMAL WELFARE CHARGES AGAIN!
Livestock and
live export agents Roberts Limited will be before the courts again on
Friday (10.00a.m. on June 16) on charges under the Animal Welfare Act,
after the matter was adjourned last week. Roberts was convicted on cruelty
charges in 1997, and both Roberts and its livestock manager Christopher
Taylor were convicted on various animal cruelty charges in 2002. Roberts
was fined over $4,000 over the 2002 convictions.
Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania
Live Export Campaign Co-ordinator Suzanne Cass said:
“We understand that Roberts has been charged once again under
the Animal Welfare Act, this time Section 7, which relates to “mismanagement”
in saleyard practices at Bridgewater. We have a statement from an unidentified
witness, who visited the saleyard late in January on a Sunday when it
was 41 degrees Celsius. The witness found two pens of calves confined,
with absolutely no water, and could find no outlet to provide them with
any water.
“The animals were terribly
distressed, as was our witness, who called the police for assistance.
It begs the question of what the cruelty provisions of the Animal Welfare
Act are for if this manifest cruelty is regarded as “mismanagement”.
Roberts’ Bridgewater
operates on Mondays, which are its sale days. AACT maintains that the
witness who provided the statement regularly monitors practices at the
saleyard, and routinely sees breaches of the Standard for the Welfare
of Animals (No. 6) Animals in Saleyards. Roberts is attempting to contest
the matter on a technicality, saying that it is not responsible for animals
left on the premises outside operating hours, and has placed a sign to
that effect at the saleyard.
“We do not believe
that Roberts can abrogate responsibility, since its saleyards are commercial
premises, and presumably money changes hands for their use”, continued
Ms Cass. “Our witness reports that amongst the breaches is the
fact that animals are routinely left by transporters in concrete sale
pens, where there is no provision for food and water, and in fact, there
doesn’t seem to ever be any evidence of food. Animals can be left
there until as late as Wednesdays after the sales. The standard is voluntary
and unenforceable, and of course, heavily weighted in favour of the
operator”
“But Roberts is aware
that it is under scrutiny, because our witness has been harassed on
several occasions. We believe that this indicates certain admissions”,
Ms Cass concluded.
For more information,
please contact Live Export Campaign Co-ordinator Suzanne, 0414 726935
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