❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses concerns regarding cattle deaths, animal welfare, and government funding related to the Kimberley Meat Company abattoir. The Minister provides some answers, defers others, and acknowledges past financial assistance.
AnsweredQoN 1892Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the report
of 400 dead cattle at the Kimberley Meat Company abattoir, and I ask: (a) has the Minister
confirmed the number of deaths at the abattoir; (b) if yes to (a), how
many cattle died; (c) if no to (a), why not; (d) does the Minister
know how these cattle died; (e) when was the last
inspection of the abattoir; (f) has there been an
inquiry into the deaths; (g) if no to (f), why not: (i) who is conducting the inquiry; (ii) when will the inquiry conclude; and (iii) will the inquiry findings be made public; (h) is the Minister aware of animal cruelty or
neglect at the abattoir as reported in the media article on ABC Kimberley titled "Yeeda
Pastoral Company accused of allowing death of hundreds of cattle, environmental
breaches"; (i) does the Department have evidence of animal
cruelty or neglect at the abattoir; (j) if yes to (i), will there be a prosecution; (k) if no to (j), why
not; (l) have the piles of
carcasses filmed by the ABC been removed from the abattoir site; (m) if no to (l), why
not; (n) if yes to (l), when were the piles removed and
how were they disposed of; (o) if the piles of
carcasses have not been removed, will the abattoir owners be directed to remove
them; (p) if no to (o), why
not; (q) if yes to (o), how
will they be directed to dispose of them; (r) how much has the WA Government provided to the abattoir, either in cash or in-kind, to help establish
the operation; (s) how much did the
roadworks to the site cost the State Government; (t) will the WA Government rule out providing any subsidies to the abattoir in the future; and (u) if no to (t), why not?
of 400 dead cattle at the Kimberley Meat Company abattoir, and I ask: (a) has the Minister
confirmed the number of deaths at the abattoir; (b) if yes to (a), how
many cattle died; (c) if no to (a), why not; (d) does the Minister
know how these cattle died; (e) when was the last
inspection of the abattoir; (f) has there been an
inquiry into the deaths; (g) if no to (f), why not: (i) who is conducting the inquiry; (ii) when will the inquiry conclude; and (iii) will the inquiry findings be made public; (h) is the Minister aware of animal cruelty or
neglect at the abattoir as reported in the media article on ABC Kimberley titled "Yeeda
Pastoral Company accused of allowing death of hundreds of cattle, environmental
breaches"; (i) does the Department have evidence of animal
cruelty or neglect at the abattoir; (j) if yes to (i), will there be a prosecution; (k) if no to (j), why
not; (l) have the piles of
carcasses filmed by the ABC been removed from the abattoir site; (m) if no to (l), why
not; (n) if yes to (l), when were the piles removed and
how were they disposed of; (o) if the piles of
carcasses have not been removed, will the abattoir owners be directed to remove
them; (p) if no to (o), why
not; (q) if yes to (o), how
will they be directed to dispose of them; (r) how much has the WA Government provided to the abattoir, either in cash or in-kind, to help establish
the operation; (s) how much did the
roadworks to the site cost the State Government; (t) will the WA Government rule out providing any subsidies to the abattoir in the future; and (u) if no to (t), why not?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
16 April 2024
Responded by
Minister for Agriculture and Food
Response time
9 days
(a) to (k) The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is aware of media reports of historic animal welfare breaches at the Kimberely Meat Company (KMC). Investigations did not result in any complainant coming forward to substantiate those media claims.
KMC is licenced to process 32340 tonnes of Liveweight product.
This equates to around 64000 head of cattle that may be processed (and therefore die) at the abattoir per annum.
(l) to (q) These questions should be addressed to the Minister for Environment.
(r) In 2023, the Kimberley Meat Company was reimbursed $786,563.95 under the ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie Freight Assistance Scheme to transport live cattle by boat from Darwin to Broome to ensure throughput for its operations, while land transport across the Fitzroy River bridge was not possible.
(s) This question should be addressed to the Minister for Transport.
(t) No.
(u) KMC has entered into voluntary administration and is currently not operating. The facility is for sale, and it would be unreasonable to exclude all future operators of the facility from future grants programs.
KMC is licenced to process 32340 tonnes of Liveweight product.
This equates to around 64000 head of cattle that may be processed (and therefore die) at the abattoir per annum.
(l) to (q) These questions should be addressed to the Minister for Environment.
(r) In 2023, the Kimberley Meat Company was reimbursed $786,563.95 under the ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie Freight Assistance Scheme to transport live cattle by boat from Darwin to Broome to ensure throughput for its operations, while land transport across the Fitzroy River bridge was not possible.
(s) This question should be addressed to the Minister for Transport.
(t) No.
(u) KMC has entered into voluntary administration and is currently not operating. The facility is for sale, and it would be unreasonable to exclude all future operators of the facility from future grants programs.
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