30th May 2019

ANIMAL WELFARE

The Hon. MARK PEARSON (12:17): My question is directed to the Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women, representing the Minister for Agriculture and Western New South Wales. On 2 April 2018 day-old chicks were buried alive after a truck transporting more than 100,000 vulnerable animals crashed near Yass. On 7 April 2018 the members of the public who found the buried-alive chicks made a detailed cruelty complaint to the RSPCA. On 12 April the then Minister for Primary Industries, the Hon. Niall Blair, told the Chamber that his department had also reported the matter to the RSPCA and it was carrying out investigations. The statutory time period for investigating this incident has now expired. What was the outcome of the investigation into the department’s complaint about the burying alive of those newborn animals?

The Hon. BRONNIE TAYLOR (Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women) (12:18): I thank the honourable member for his question. As it refers to a Minister in the other place, I will take it on notice and get back to him as soon as possible.

Government response 20th June 2019:

The Hon. BRONNIE TAYLOR (Minister for Mental Health, Regional Youth and Women)—The Minister provided the following response:

RSPCA NSW investigated the incident and there were no offences identified under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 [POCTA].

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-06/investigation-launched-after-baby-chicks-buried-canberra-yass/9627212

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/council-crews-accused-of-burying-chicks-alive-after-truck-crash-20180406-p4z81y.html

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5327881/baby-chicks-buried-alive-in-yass-truck-crash-clean-up-claims/