Rogue abattoir not representative: government

10 Feb 2012, 12:03 pm   -   Source: AAP
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A NSW Food Authority spokesman says video footage of animal cruelty at a Sydney abattoir is the worst he's seen, as workers involved in the acts have been sacked or moved to other duties.

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A Sydney abattoir that has been shut down because of gross animal mistreatment is a rogue operator and not representative of the industry, the NSW Food Authority says.

The Authority suspended operations at Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors at Wilberforce on Thursday after it received video footage depicting "acts of gross animal mistreatment".

The footage, shown on ABC's Lateline program on Thursday night, showed a worker bashing a pig several times over the head with a metal bar.

Another pig was hit 13 times because it had not been stunned properly.

INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED

The Authority, the RSPCA and NSW Department of Primary Industries have launched an investigation into the abattoir, while the operation has been ordered to make a submission as to why it shouldn't lose its licence.

Peter Day, executive director of compliance at the authority, said it was the worst animal welfare breach at an abattoir that he has ever seen, but defended the industry as a whole.

"Obviously the footage we have seen, we would be of the view that it is not representative of the industry as a whole, and that this is a rogue operation, that is in no way compliant with what is expected of abattoirs," he told reporters in Sydney.

"We will work with the relevant other agencies... to ensure that we fully uncover why this has occurred and how we can ensure operations like this don't occur into the future.

"There is no denying that the footage is disturbing. I'm shocked. I think it is the worst case I've seen in an abattoir in terms of animal welfare breaches."

'WORKERS SACKED'

Workers involved in the mistreatment of animals at a Sydney slaughterhouse have been sacked or moved to other duties, the abattoir says.

Hawkesbury Valley Meat Processors said it was extremely concerned about video footage aired on television on Thursday night showing animals being bashed to death while conscious.

"Casual staff involved in the incident have been stood down and permanent staff have been moved to other duties until the investigation has been finalised," the abattoir said in a statement on Friday.

Hawkesbury Valley said it reported the incident to authorities as soon as it became aware of the video and was cooperating with the current investigation

WAKE-UP CALL

NSW Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson on Friday said the footage should act as a "wake-up call" for all abattoir operators, and flagged a review of the state's abattoirs.

"I've seen this footage, and it may well be a one-off, but we're certainly going to review the operations in all abattoirs as a result of this," she told ABC Radio.

"I want to make sure that all operations right across NSW are being conducted in a manner which follows those animal welfare guidelines."

The body representing NSW farmers said it was appalled by the cruelty depicted in the video and welcomed the investigation into the abattoir.

NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said animal welfare had to be a priority for everyone in the meat production chain.

"After the live export issue in 2011, our membership reaffirmed that the highest level of animal welfare should always be carried out, whether at home or abroad," she said in a statement.

CALL FOR CCTV CAMERAS

Animals Australia called for closed circuit television cameras to be installed in all Australian abattoirs.

"One of the problems is that unlike export abattoirs, domestic abattoirs don't have an inspector or government officer on site most of the time," campaign director Lyn White said in a statement.

She said Animals Australia was calling on authorities to follow the lead of the UK where one in five abattoirs was fitted with CCTV cameras.

"Only the presence of cameras will actively discourage workers from engaging in such wanton acts of gross cruelty," she said.

The food authority's Mr Day said there were a number of risks with CCTV.

"It is something that we will look at in terms of whether that could have worked in this regard," he said.

"But I think that raises a lot of other questions around who watches the video, who owns the video footage, compliance and so on.

"I think we are really focussing on the fact that this a one off, in terms of a rogue operator.

"We've taken the necessary action, they're not operating now, and we're doing our full investigation."

'INSPECTED 4 TIMES'

Mr Day said the Sydney abattoir had been audited or inspected four times in 2011.

"(But) there was nothing to indicate the levels of the problems that were revealed in the footage were occurring there".

Asked if the authority's compliance procedures had failed, Mr Day said it carried out unannounced inspections and audits.

"I don't know what more we can do there in that regard," he said.

"I think that our compliance program is as good as it can be at the present time."

Mr Day said part of the investigation would also look at ongoing investigation and compliance activities.

"I think we need to be clear that ultimately the responsibility to comply with the legislation lies with the abattoir owner operators," he added.

"As the regulator our action is to respond and react and take action appropriately, where we do uncover breaches, and I think we've done that in this regard."

NSW Chief Veterinary Officer Ian Roth agreed that the Hawkesbury operation was a rogue operator.

"We were horrified - we were shocked," Dr Roth said.

"We think it's very appropriate ... to immediately suspend the operation at the abattoir and also to refer it to the RSPCA for a full investigation."

Dr Roth said he had never seen cruelty like that filmed at the Sydney abattoir.

"I was shocked, and we were horrified, and I obviously didn't like it at all," he said.

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Your Comments

why not charged?

penny - from Perth, 3 months ago

the workers should be charged for cruelty and the operators with negligence - not just sacked! be great if every abattoir had cameras and greater of people who eat meat actually watched the footagee where it came from.

Horror abattoir exposed!

Inta and Peter - from Melbourne, 3 months ago

To the director of the Hawkesbury Valley Abattoir, Glenn Langley! My family and I were disgusted to learn of the standards which are applied at your slaughtering facility. What reprehensible acts of gross animal mistreatment have been allowed to happen under the watch of your management! Your abattoir is the lowest of the low and deserves utmost condemnation. Your heads should be hanging in SHAME! Thank goodness for the brave whistle blower from your organisation. He deserves a gold medal!

SHAMEFUL BEHAVIOR

Paul - from QLD, 3 months ago

The person or persons who committed this act of cruelty to these pigs should be taken out the back and beaten a few times with an iron bar to see how they feel about it, this is disgraceful behaviour by these so called human beings, they should be sacked and never be aloud to work in an abattoir ever again. If an animal has to be slaughtered it should always be done in a humane procedure, never ever like these IDIOTS have done.

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