A WA parliamentary question seeks data on the Department of Agriculture and Food's (DAFWA) enforcement of the Animal Welfare Act 2002, including staffing, investigations, and prosecutions. The Minister provides specific figures for 2013-14 and 2014-15.

AnsweredQoN 494Legislative Council
Asked
7 May 2015
Portfolio
Agriculture and Food

QuestionView source ↗

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND FOOD — ANIMAL
WELFARE ACT 2002
494. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the Minister
for Agriculture and Food:
(1) How many
staff in the Department of Agriculture and Food are currently authorised to
conduct investigations under the Animal Welfare Act?
(2) For the 2013–14
financial year, and 2014–15 to date —
(a) how many
investigations into breeches of the Animal Welfare Act did department staff
undertake;
(b) how many
prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act did the department or the State Solicitor's
Office, on its behalf, commence;
(c) how many prosecutions were
successful; and
(d) how many prosecutions were
unsuccessful?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the honourable member for some notice of the
question.
(1) There are
17 members of staff at DAFWA who are appointed under the Animal Welfare Act
2002 as general inspectors, and four as scientific inspectors. All have powers
to investigate offences under the act.
(2) In relation to breaches or potential breaches of the act —
(a) A total of 131 investigations
were undertaken in 2013–14, and 123 in 2014–15 to date.
(b) Zero prosecutions were
commenced in 2013–14, and three in 2014–15 to date.
(c) One successful prosecution in
2014–15 to date.
(d) One unsuccessful prosecution for
2014–15 to date.

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