ANIMAL WELFARE —
CATTLE DEATHS — YANDEYARRA RESERVE
72. Hon ROBIN CHAPPLE to the Minister for Agriculture and
Food:
I refer to the recent cattle deaths
reported to have occurred on Kangan station and at Yandeyarra reserve, two questions
without notice on this issue asked in the Legislative Council on Tuesday, 12 February
2019, and question without notice 30 asked in the Legislative Council on 18 February
2015.
(1) Given that
the issue of poor animal husbandry was raised with the Department of Indigenous
Affairs in 2012 by concerned traditional owners and was subsequently, in 2015,
raised by me with the Minister for Lands, with associated photos of cattle
deaths, what oversight was put in place to ensure that respectable animal husbandry
was established?
(2) Was a plan,
direction or reprimand given?
(3) If yes to
(2), will the minister table the documents?
(4) If no to (2)
and/or (3), why not?
(5) At the time
of the original reports in 2012 and 2015, what action did the relevant department
with oversight of pastoral activities take?
(6) With
reference to (5), if no action was taken, why not?
Hon ALANNAH MacTIERNAN
replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1) In 2012, the
then Department of Indigenous Affairs was made aware of concerns regarding
animal welfare at Yandeyarra reserve. These were referred to the then
Department of Agriculture and Food WA for investigation. DAFWA then became
aware of a cattle welfare incident at Pinga Creek, Yandeyarra, in 24 October
2012. The livestock compliance unit contacted the manager of Yandeyarra and
made recommendations about the management of cattle, including humane
destruction of animals that were suffering.
(2) On 8 November
2012, three direction notices were sent to the chief executive officer of the
Mugarinya community in South Hedland, by the LCU. These direction notices
required Mugarinya to check the welfare of cattle at or near the Pinga Creek
bridge twice weekly and to provide cattle with proper and sufficient water and,
as appropriate, veterinary treatment or euthanasia. The LCU and DAFWA staff in
the region followed up on matters covered by the direction notices. On 23 January
2013, the case was closed as there had been no further complaints of cattle
perishing at Pinga Creek, Yandeyarra.
(3) No.
(4) Department of
Primary Industries and Regional Development does not provide copies of
direction notices to parties other than the recipient.
(5) Between 2012
and 2015, Pilbara Indigenous Landholder Services, a collaboration between the Indigenous
Landholder Corporation and the then DAFWA, supported Pilbara Aboriginal
pastoral leases with economic development, property planning and regulation and
compliance matters. PILS successfully facilitated a funding agreement between
BHP and the Mugarinya community for the establishment of a pastoral manager for
its lands. The reserve was actively managed with improvements and maintenance
being made to infrastructure, roads, animal biosecurity and rangelands
management. Recent animal welfare incidents at Noonkanbah and Yandeyarra have
occurred following the departure of senior leadership from those pastoral
operations.
(6) Not
applicable.