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BACKGROUND
Community
Support for L.E.Giles & Sons Inc.
Community Support for L.E.Giles & Sons Inc. was founded in 2012 following a
community outcry in relation to closure of L.E.Giles & Sons abattoir
located on the edge of the Strzelecki Ranges in West Gippsland. The group’s aims include:
1. To collect and collate information relating to the impact on
businesses and producers due to the closure of L.E. Giles & Sons
abattoirs.
2. To support the broader community in the re-opening of an abattoirs in Trafalgar.
L.E.Giles & Sons Abattoir
From the humble beginnings in
the early 1900’s with a horse and cart to the well respected, domestic abattoir
operating in 2011, the Giles family took great pride in developing the business
to serve the needs of their customers in the meat industry.
Animals - cattle, sheep, pigs and goats were a core element of the business,
their handling conducted in a professional manner to ensure a quality end
product for human consumption.
The business provided substantial employment for the district, educational
opportunities for industry training and serviced a wide range of needs for
small and large producers/businesses.
The generosity of L.E. Giles & Sons abattoir in supporting the broader
community was appreciated by many community organisations, groups, sporting
clubs and educational facilities.
The
Closure of the L.E.Giles & Sons Abattoir
L.E. Giles & Sons abattoir
were contacted by PrimeSafe on the evening of Thursday 24 November 2011 and
advised to cease operations until further notice, management was asked to
attend PrimeSafe’s offices in Melbourne on Monday 28 November 2011 in relation
to an allegation of animal cruelty.
However, on the morning of
Friday 25 November 2011 PrimeSafe contacted L.E. Giles & Sons again and
advised that Management needed to attend the PrimeSafe Office that day.
Management arrived at PrimeSafe office in Melbourne on that Friday afternoon
and was told by the CEO of PrimeSafe that if they surrendered their licence,
PrimeSafe would take no further action against the licensee.
The Inquiry into the Impact of Food Safety Regulation on Farms and Other
Businesses Final Report stated “Mr. Casey believes that he had explained the
show cause process to Mr. Colin Giles. However, considering s 22 (3) of the
Meat Industry Act 1993 may be difficult for a member of the public without
experience in legislation to understand...”(Victoria, Parliament. Rural and
Regional Committee, 2013, p.89).
“In light of these concerns expressed to the Committee it is important that
regulators not only have proper processes in place to deal with non-compliance
but that these are implemented in a transparent way ” (Victoria, Parliament.
Rural and Regional Committee, 2013, p.89). With all of the above directions given verbally,
no written notifications were ever received.
By 5:47pm that same day the Herald Sun posted an
article on its website. With PrimeSafe Chief Executive Officer - Brian Casey
advising the Herald Sun it was his intention to close the abattoir permanently
(Mickelburough, P., 2011). “I am appalled by the treatment of animals shown in
the video footage” (Mickelburough, P., 2011, p.1). “I have advised the abattoir
owners that it is my intention, immediately the investigation is concluded, to
take action with a view to cancelling their PrimeSafe licence”(Mickelburough,
P., 2011, p.1). These two statements were portrayed in the media over the
following days, persecuting the small business in the media arena before an
investigation had even commenced.
On Tuesday 29 th November 2011 Raymond Giles sent a fax to PrimeSafe’s Chief
Executive Brian Casey stating “Due to unforeseen circumstances and upon advice
given to me by Brendan Ryan and Brian Casey I Raymond Giles feel that I have no
other choice but to surrender the [licence].” Later that day PrimeSafe’s
Operations Manager Brendan Ryan told the Giles abattoir that the “request to
surrender” was unacceptable and must be resubmitted. Raymond Giles then sent a
second fax to PrimeSafe’s Chief Executive Brian Casey stating “I Raymond Giles
wish to surrender the [licence].”
PrimeSafe’s CEO advised Josie Taylor on 7.30 Victoria report “The immediate
action we took, was to preclude them from processing, pending an
investigation.”
Mr Brian Casey also informed the Weekly Times that “The fact that they were not
given a second chance was precluded because they elected to cancel their licence”(Goswell,
G., 2011, p.1).
In April 2012, following an investigation into allegations of animal cruelty
the Department of Environment and Primary Industries (DEPI) filed charges
against Management of the L.E.Giles & Sons Abattoir under the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals Act 1996.
A hearing at the Latrobe Valley Magistrates Court was scheduled to commence on
Monday 15/04/2012, but instead the DEPI withdrew the charges. The Department
issued a statement “The department thoroughly investigates any allegation of
cruelty and when circumstances are warranted, prosecute those involved”
(Nelson,L. & Charalambous, S., 2013, p.1). REFERENCES:
Goswell,G. (2011, December, 07).
After Indonesia, abattoir cruelty hits home. ABC NEWS, 2:43PM.
Mickelburough, P. (2011, November
25). Gippsland abattoir shut amid animal cruelty claims. Herald Sun, 6:38PM.
Nelson, L. & Charalambous, S.
(2013, April, 04). Cruelty charges dropped. Latrobe
Valley Express, 12:00AM.
Victoria, Parliament. Rural and Regional Committee. (2013). Final Report: Inquiry into the Impact of Food Safety Regulation on Farms and Other Businesses. Victoria, Australia: Tenderprint Australia Pty. Ltd. Parliamentary Paper No. 223 Session, 2010–13.
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