Vic RSPCA slammed in inquiry submissions

Submissions to a parliamentary inquiry into Victoria's RSPCA say its activism is a conflict of interest.

Victoria's RSPCA needs to stop its animal activism and political campaigning, submissions to a parliamentary inquiry into the organisation say.

A Victorian parliamentary inquiry will look into the RSPCA's use of its powers and funding provided by the government.

Submissions by farming and greyhound groups say it needs to stop its activism and concentrate on its role as a regulator.

"The RSPCA has effectively lost its way and has morphed into another animal rights group," National Greyhound Racing United said in it's submission.

"Animals don't need rights, they need good care."

The NGRU took aim at the RSPCA for speaking out about the greyhound industry, horse racing and battery hens, saying they were attacking "legal animal related activities and industries".

The group says the RSCPA's relationship with activist group Animals Australia was a "number one concern" from its members.

This view was backed up by the Victorian Farmers Federation who said the organisation shouldn't be campaigning for an end to live beef exports or duck hunting, which are "perfectly legal activities".

It said it had has concerns about an "activist group undertaking official government business with powers comparable to those of the police".

"Campaigning against the legal actions of those that the same body is responsible for regulating would appear to be a conflict of interest," The VFF said in its submission.

It also said the RSPCA should not "encroach on agriculture" and focus on "domestic animals", which are its area of expertise.

The RSPCA in its submission said it wants further protections against getting sued for doing its job, saying there are "no protections from being held civilly liable".

A report on the inquiry is due on August 22.


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Published 4 April 2017 6:02am
Source: AAP


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