Document Actions
Move for Upper House inquiry into RSPCA koala seizure
Monday 05 April 2010
Greens MP and animal welfare spokesperson Lee Rhiannon will move for an Upper House inquiry into the role of the RSPCA and the Channel 7 reality show, Animal Rescue, in the seizure of koalas at a Gunnedah wildlife park.
"My office has received a number of complaints about the work of the RSPCA in the Gunnedah area in recent months and this Inquiry is clearly needed," Ms Rhiannon said.
"Concerns have been raised about why Waterways Wildlife Park was raided and the role of Channel 7 which filmed the raid for a lengthy period.
"Two months after staging the raid the RSPCA have determined that no charges will be laid.
"The raid and seizure of the koalas raises many worrying questions about how the RSPCA operates.
"The local independent MP Peter Draper is backing the Greens call for this Inquiry.
"If the Coalition and crossbench MPs support the Greens motion on this issue we will have the numbers to set up the Inquiry in the Upper House.
"The Inquiry is needed to examine all circumstances surrounding the koala seizure, and to investigate the appropriateness of the RSPCA’s relationship with a reality television program when staging the raid.
"While the Channel 7 show Animal Rescue undertook many hours of filming during the raid I understand that the show about the seizure of the koalas will now not go to air.
"From my talks with the owners of Waterways Wildlife Park and Gunnedah Councillors Tim Duddy and Leon Miles there is a clear need for this inquiry to also consider the work of the compliance arm of the RSPCA.
"A number of Gunnedah locals have put to me a strong case for this aspect of the RSPCA's work to be shut down and for the police stock squad to undertake such work.
"This Inquiry would provide an opportunity to investigate the incident at Waterways Wildlife Park and to apply the lessons learnt from this incident to improving animal welfare in rural NSW," Ms Rhiannon said.
For more information – 0427 861 568
