Tasmanian RSPCA heading down the failed activism route?

Thursday January 28, 2021

The RSPCA in Tasmania is reportedly poised to launch a campaign in opposition to regulated, licenced duck hunting in that State.

Tasmanian duck hunters must pass a Waterfowl Identification Test (WIT) in order to obtain a Game Licence and pass stringent background checks in order to obtain and maintain their Shooters Licence. They are demonstrably amongst the most responsible and law-abiding citizens of the State, they would not hold the licences that they do if this were not the case.

The RSPCA has two types of powers. Statutory powers and the powers granted by its social licence. By virtue of Royal warrant, government sanction and a history of undisputed good works in the area of animal welfare, the RSPCA has a position in society which is unrivalled by any organisation of its ilk. Governments and the general public place a great deal of trust in the advice and opinions of the RSPCA due to its status as a public institution. Unfortunately, evidence shows that the RPSCA in its current form is injudicious and irresponsible in the use of their privileged position. The RSPCA’s use of its position to campaign against lawful activities such as hunting based on ideology diminishes its ability to act as an impartial advisor on animal welfare issues and undermines public confidence in its ability to execute its statutory duties in a fair and transparent manner.

We recently recounted how the RSPCA in Victoria’s activism put its CEO, Dr Liz Walker in the farcical position of posing piously with a long dead (and presumably quite pungent) Swan.

We also recalled how the RSPCA’s own internal review had found that the sort of activism which is about to commence in Tasmania was detrimental to the RSPCA’s vital role as a regulator of Animal Welfare.

To quote Dr Walker in the wake of the RSPCA Victoria’s damning internal review

“We certainly understand that over the past few years there have been issues which we have campaigned on, and their tone and the way we have done that definitely impacted on our trust with our stakeholders and we apologise for that”.

Dr. Walker also acknowledged that the RSPCA’s activism had compromised the vital work of their inspectors.

“It puts them (the inspectors) in an untenable position to have to do that whilst the organisation that employs them has in the past openly and very emotionally and stridently advocated against the existing laws”.

We can only hope that the Tasmanian RSPCA heeds the lessons from across Bass Strait before it’s too late. If they don’t, perhaps it’s time for the Tasmanian Government to take a serious look at the extraordinary powers that the RSPCA is gifted by the Tasmanian public.