A piggery near Gingin has today been fined $225,000 and ordered to pay $21,000 in costs in the Perth Magistrate’s Court for breaches of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.
Westpork Pty Ltd pleaded guilty last month to ten charges of cruelty to animals under section 19 of the Act. The offences were detected during inspections of its grow out facility in January and February 2009.
The charges were laid by the Department of Local Government in January 2011. Administration of the Act was transferred to the Department of Agriculture and Food in July 2011.
Department Agricultural Resource Risk Management Executive Director John Ruprecht said the case served as a reminder to industry about the importance of adhering to animal welfare standards.
“The result sends a clear message to the commercial sector that it needs to put appropriate systems, processes and training in place to ensure all livestock are managed and treated appropriately,” Mr Ruprecht said.
“That means businesses have to plan to incorporate and maintain animal welfare practices and standards as part of their overall operation.”
Mr Ruprecht said the department had conducted two inspections of the facility since the charges were laid, as well as an inspection of another facility owned by Westpork. The department was satisfied that Westpork had addressed the animal welfare concerns and put appropriate systems in place.
Media contact: Jodie Thomson, media liaison +61 (0)8 9368 3937