Humane
Society International Extinction Denied Program
Action Alert
Demand
the suspension of pork industry executive charged with animal cruelty
Sydney , 3 June 2009
Act as soon as possible
The
manager of Western Australia
In
yet another disturbing case of animal cruelty on a pig farm, an investigation
and raid were first carried out at the Westpork facility at Gingin in 2007
following the release of footage showing it was so full of waste and excrement
that the pigs were struggling to walk. It has also been alleged that pigs were
left to die lingering deaths once they had succumbed to illnesses, and that
some pigs had eaten others that had died and were left in the pens.
The explicit footage taken at the Gingin
piggery can be viewed online at:
http://ara.org.au/index.php/News/westpork-pty-ltd-charged-with-cruelty-at-gingin-pig-farm.html
The
treatment of pigs at the Westpork Gingin piggery is unacceptable, yet despite
the animal cruelty charge against him, Mr Ferguson has maintained his position
on the APL (Australia Pork Limited) Board. In fact, it is not the only
executive position in the pork industry maintained by Mr Ferguson – he is also
involved in the training of pork producers through his position on the Pork
Industry Training Committee in WA, and is the Chair of the WA Agriculture
Produce Commission’s Pork Committee.
It
is wholly inappropriate for a person charged with an animal cruelty offense to
continue to hold a Board position with APL. Likewise, he should not be
permitted a role in the training of pork producers.
It
is essential that the APL, the Pork Industry Training Committee in WA, and the
WA Agriculture Produce Commission revoke the positions held by Mr Ferguson
until the case is resolved in court, and suspend him permanently if he is
convicted. The hearing is scheduled to take place on the 1st July
2009.
Action:
Write to each member of the APL
Board, urging them to immediately suspend Mr Ferguson from his position on the
Board until the animal cruelty charge is heard in court, and that he is removed
permanently if found guilty. Ask that APL also makes a recommendation to the WA
Pork Industry Training Committee and the WA Agricultural Produce Commission
that his position is reviewed in light of the animal cruelty charge, and that
further action is taken to revoke these positions if Mr Ferguson is convicted.
The members of the APL Board are: Mr Enzo Allara (Chairman), Mr
Aeger Kingma, Mr Kenneth Cameron, Mr Paul Pattison, .
Send your letters for each member
to:
Australian
Pork Limited
PO Box 148
Deakin
West ACT 2600
Write to the West Australian Pork Producers’ Association who facilitates the Pork Industry Training (WA) committee,
noting that Mr Ferguson has been charged with an animal cruelty offence and
should therefore not be allowed a training role in the pork industry until the
case is heard in court. Highlight your concern about Mr Ferguson’s involvement
in the development and facilitation of training courses on stockpersonship and
production given the charge against him.
Contact:
Mr
Russell Cox
Executive
Officer
West
Australian Pork Producers’ Association
277
Great Eastern Highway
Belmont WA 6104
Email:
russell@wappa.com.au
Write to the Agricultural Produce Commission , stressing that a person charged with an animal cruelty offense must
not be permitted to continue to be on the Board of a government committee
supporting the pork industry until the case is resolved.
Contact:
Ingrid
Smith
Executive
Officer
Agricultural
Produce Commission
3 Baron-Hay Court
South Perth WA 6151
Email:
apc@agric.wa.gov.au
Please send us copies of any responses you receive.
HSI concentrates on the preservation of endangered
animals and ecosystems and works to ensure quality of life for all animals,
both domestic and wild. HSI is the largest animal
protection not-for-profit organisation in the world, with over 10 million
supporters globally and has been established in Australia
Humane Society International Inc - Australian Office
PO Box 439 Avalon NSW 2107
Australia
Ph: 02 9973 1728 Fax: 02 9973 1729
www.hsi.org.au