A stoush has erupted in state parliament between the LNP agriculture spokesman Tony Perrett and Agriculture Minister Mark Furner over animal welfare at the Meramist Caboolture abattoir facility.
Mr Perrett called for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to stand down Mr Furner after he failed to justify the inaction in parliament on Thursday.
Federal Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie detailed in Senate Estimates that her departmental vet had referred nine separate reports into animal welfare from the Caboolture abattoir facility to the department Mr Furner is directly responsible for.
"Labor's Mark Furner has turned his back on his responsibility to protect animal welfare in Queensland," Mr Perrett said.
"It's completely unacceptable that Mark Furner's department received nine reports about these issues and failed to deal with them.
"This horrendous mistreatment should never have happened and Labor are trying to cover it up.
"Labor's Mark Furner should resign immediately and the Palaszczuk government needs to come clean on why they neglected their objective to ensure racing animals are cared for before, during and after racing."
Mr Furner said if anyone should resign it was Mr Perrett.
"On such a serious matter, Mr Perrett has not even sought a briefing - even though this government has launched an inquiry into the allegations," Mr Furner said.
"As I said in the house - As this is an ongoing investigation, I can advise the house that there were six horse related referrals in 2017 involving 16 horses, six of those in 2018 involving 12 horses and eight in 2019 involving 14 horses.
"There have been five cases in 2019, including the cattle case, relating to animals in poor condition considered unfit to load and three cases relating to animals suffering injuries either occurring during transit or prior to transit.
"Six cases have been investigated and have been finalised. Two cases are still under investigation and details of four of the cases were referred to interstate jurisdictions to follow up."
During the debate the Ms Palaszczuk said her party supported "the best Agriculture Minister there has been".
"There is no better advocate for agriculture, the impact of drought and animal welfare in Queensland than Minister Furner," she said.
"I absolutely support the work that he doing."
On Tuesday the state government announced an inquiry will be held into the treatment of retired racehorses in Queensland.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
