RSPCA Tasmania

RSPCA Tasmania

Motto	To prevent cruelty to animals by actively promoting their care and protection
Legal status	Charity
Headquarters	New Town, Tasmania
Services	Animal welfare
General Manager	Peter West[1]
Parent organisation	RSPCA Australia
Website	rspcatas.org.au

RSPCA Tasmania (Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tasmania) is a charity and law enforcement organisation in Tasmania, Australia. It runs and maintains three shelters for the rehoming of animals, a dog boarding service as well as several other programs. It is also responsible for the enforcement of animal welfare laws in Tasmania.^[2]

Law Enforcement

RSPCA Tasmania maintains five full-time Inspectors to enforce animal welfare laws in Tasmania.^[3] They have a range of powers, including the ability to fine individuals on the spot for violations.^[4]

Criticism

RSPCA Tasmania has had some of the heaviest criticism of all RSPCA branches. From 2008-2010, criticism of the RSPCA’s Tasmanian branch reached the national headlines following a disagreement with Australia's 4th richest woman Jan Cameron, who criticised RSPCA Tasmania on the raising of staff wages, its increased euthanasia rates, its lowered number of accepted animals^[5] and for mismanagement of the board,^[6] resulting in her withdrawal of millions of dollars of pledged funding. Criticism by a string of former board members also reached the headlines after Susanna Cass, former President of the Tasmanian branch, resigned from the board and then later had her membership revoked because a statement made by Cass in the media "negatively impacted on the society's ability to meet its objectives", according to the RSPCA's official release.^[7] She later accused the board of spending money on unrequired bureaucracy instead of animal welfare.^[8]

Director John Bates also resigned from the state board in 2009 and later had his membership revoked and was disallowed from volunteering at the Hobart RSPCA shelter after he raised concerns about management of donations by the branch.^[9][10][11] Further troubles with volunteers, including other board members, took place in 2008 and 2009 when the RSPCA Tasmania controversially sacked manager of the Burnie Shelter Joan McQueen, and was forced to pay out an undisclosed amount to Mrs McQueen following the Burnie City Council seeking a meeting to discuss the matter and a mass walkout of Burnie Shelter RSPCA volunteers.^{[12][13][14][15]} The RSPCA later revoked the membership of the estranged husband of Joan McQueen, Mick McQueen - former chairman of the board - for an altercation on the day of his wife’s sacking with the Chairman at the time Dr Rick Butler. Mr McQueen later criticized the RSPCA board as having a 'boys club mentallity'.^[16]

On the 13 November 2012 the Green's Animal Welfare Spokesperson (Cassy O'Connor) called on the Deputy Premier to step in and dismiss the current board of 3. The Minister indicated that unfortunately he did not have the power to take such action under any legislation in Tasmania. On the same day with unanimous support it was moved by the State Parliament that the affairs of RSPCA Tasmania and the usage of tax payer money be investigated by the Public Accounts Committee ^[17]

In November 2012 the board of RSPCA Tasmania sacked its CEO Ben Sturges (son of the MP Graeme Sturges) after an independent investigation by James O'Neill and Associates that alleged he had bullied and threatened staff and their jobs, made derogatory comments about the RSPCA Tasmania board and withheld information from them, deleted portions of emails and destroyed a work laptop. The investigation also concluded he had artificially created the position of Chief Veterinarian for the organisation's only veterinarian with whom he was in a relationship, therefore entitling her to a pay rise.^[18] Ben Sturges initially took the matter to Fair Work Australia to dispute his sacking and requesting reinstatement. He withdraw his complaint on the 7th of February, the day he was due to give evidence to Fair Work Australia^[19][20]

In relation to the incident, calls were made by former President of RSPCA Tasmania Suzanne Cass to have the board of RSPCA Tasmania sacked.^[21]

References

1. "RSPCA Tasmania uses social media to find new homes for stray pets". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 18 September 2014. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
2. "What Do We Do". rspcatas.org.au. RSPCA Tasmania. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
3. "What Do We Do - Inspectorate". rspcatas.org.au. RSPCA Tas. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
4. "New powers for RSPCA inspectors gives pet laws more bite". PerthNow. 19 January 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
5. Brain, Rachael (2009-05-06). "RSPCA says millionaire's offer should be no strings attached". The Examiner. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
6. "RSPCA dogfight with millionaire benefactor". Theaustralian.com. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
8. "RSPCA rejects criticisms - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 2010-07-29. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
10. "RSPCA's cold shoulder to former director - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
11. Wild, Ben (2009-09-21). "RSPCA chook shed volunteer is told to leave". The Examiner. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
12. Ford, Sean (2009-05-18). "RSPCA pays out sacked manager". The Advocate. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
13. Haneveer, Anthony (2008-05-19). "Claws out over shelter". The Advocate. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
15. Ford, Sean (2008-05-27). "RSPCA has a fight on its hands". The Advocate. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
16. Haneveer, Anthony (2008-06-22). "Speaking out over RSPCA". The Advocate. Retrieved 2013-10-13.
18. Maloney, Matt (Nov 25, 2012). "Ex-RSPCA chief set for battle". The Examiner. Retrieved 24 Jan 2014.
19. Maloney, Matt (Feb 7, 2013). "Former RSPCA chief withdraws action". The Examiner. Retrieved 24 Jan 2014.
20. "Sacked RSPCA boss bites back". ABC News. 7 Nov 2012. Retrieved 24 Jan 2014.
21. "Call to sack RSPCA board - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. 2012-11-08. Retrieved 2013-10-13.