WA Liberals want charges brought over 2000 cattle deaths at Yandeyarra and Nookanbah stations in 2018

Nearly two years after the mass deaths of cattle in horrific conditions on two northern stations, the WA Liberals have warned “time is running out” to lay charges over the shocking incidents. More than 2000 cattle died of thirst or had to be put down on Yandeyarra and Nookanbah stations in the two months beginning December 2018 after being found near dried-out water points during an unusually dry wet season. Yandeyarra, 100km south of Port Hedland, and Nookanbah, near Fitzroy Crossing, are both owned by Aboriginal corporations and in both cases there was turnover of management staff shortly prior to the deaths. The two-year statute of limitations under the Animal Welfare Act expires in late December (for Noonkanbah) and January (for Yandeyarra) but long-running investigations by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development have so far failed to result in charges. Upper House Liberal MP Jim Chown, who has persistently quizzed the McGowan Government about the probes, told Parliament he had repeatedly been labelled “racist” by Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan over his pursuit of prosecutions for what he described as “the worst breach of the State’s animal welfare legislation in living memory”. “(Cattle) were dying on top of each other while they tried to drink the slop that remained to quench their insatiable thirst,” he said. Ms MacTiernan said “investigation briefs” for both cases had been referred to the State Solicitor’s Office for advice and DPIRD was speaking with “expert witnesses before finalising its position on potential breaches”. “DPIRD has advised that they will have settled advice prior to the expiration of the two-year statutory limitation period,” she said, adding the protracted timeframe was not unusual because of “deficiencies” in the Act – which is currently under review. Mr Chown rubbished that explanation, telling Parliament “the evidentiary problems that the minister stated in her response do not exist.” Ms MacTiernan said there was “no doubt that the complex ownership and management structure on pastoral leases held by Aboriginal corporations” had contributed to the delay. “Quite clearly, the competence of the station management in running a cattle enterprise forms part of the investigation,” she said, adding “professional pastoral management services” were now in place at both properties.