Westpork faces cruelty charges at Mindara Farm Piggery in Gingin after a complaint made by ARA 3 and a 1/2 years ago.

Latest Update: The State Solicitor has dropped the charges:

"The charges were withdrawn in light of technical legal difficulties which came to the Department's attention at a late stage. Those difficulties are not expected to recur in future prosecutions."
- Department of Local Government

BACKGROUND

The complainant on the record for the piggery matter is the Department of Local Government and Regional Development (DLGRD).  The defendants are Westpork Pty Ltd, Neil Ferguson and Robert Massar. The matter was mentioned in the Magistrates Court in Gingin on 24 March 2009.

The defendents have been charged with being cruel to an animal, namely a pig, which suffered harm that could have been alleviated by the taking of reasonable steps under section 19(1) and 19(3)(h) of the Animal Welfare Act 2002.

The case was remanded to the Midland Magistrates Court on 12 May 2009 with no plea and subsequently adjourned three more times before finally being heard on Thursday 3 June 2010.

The ridiculously meager charge shows the inadequacy of animal cruelty laws to protect animals. The reality is that animals can not be bred for food without causing cruelty. The economic interest in cheap, plentiful animal products will always outweigh the interests of the animals involved. As long as animals are considered resources there will always be suffering.

View the disturbing footage that prompted the police raid below. Much of the footage was taken with a mobile phone hence is lower quality than other footage on the site.