RSCPA Queensland chair welcomes review into strife-torn animal welfare organisation

An RSCPA Queensland whistleblower says the embattled organisation’s board and CEO must stand aside for the sake of “staff, volunteers and animals”.

RSPCA Queensland chair Justine Hickey says she would “welcome” a review into the strife-torn animal welfare group after current and former senior staff sensationally called on the CEO and board to stand aside “for the good of the organisation”.

They say a parliamentary inquiry into the iconic, $50 million animal welfare group is also needed, following Annastacia Palaszczuk’s call for a “thorough review”.

A lawyer employed by the RSPCA and recently departed executives are among disgruntled current and former staff calling for change at the top after the Sunday Mail’s shock revelations of turmoil.

But Ms Hickey has hit back, saying the organisation has “a strong and stable board and management team which are delivering strong financial, operational and animal outcomes” and she would “welcome any review”.

RSPCA Queensland chair Justine Hickey and chief executive Darren Maier. Picture: Annette Dew

It follows outcry over tens of thousands of dollars in executive bonuses, animal welfare concerns and the departure of a senior staffer over a sexual relationship with an alleged dogfighter turned informant.

The RSPCA has also been at the centre of a whistleblower investigation into the bonuses and conflicts of interest allegations.

It can now be revealed that CEO Darren Maier was hired on a $330,000 salary plus perks in 2019 a month after staff raised serious concerns with the board about the RSPCA’s frontline inspectorate – including a lack of resources, safety risks to inspectors and an overwhelming prosecution workload – only to be told there were “cashflow difficulties”.

Mr Maier pocketed bonuses totalling $170,000 in 2020 and 2021 at the same time as the organisation was receiving millions of dollars in Jobkeeper payments.

Two of Mr Maier’s associates who were hired for senior roles on six-figure salaries – including his son’s basketball coach – were also paid bonuses before leaving the organisation earlier this year, documents reveal.

There’s no suggestion either of the associates did anything wrong, and Mr Maier said there was “complete transparency” in the recruitment, and “nothing untoward”.

A whistleblower investigation found the appointment of the associates was in breach of the RSPCA’s conflict of interest policies, sources have confirmed.

RSPCA chair Justine Hickey, pictured with chief executive Darren Maier, says she would welcome a review into the organisation. Picture: Annette Dew

A slew of current and former RSPCA staff and volunteers have contacted the Sunday Mail to express concerns about the organisation’s direction.

“Our organisation is suffering,” a lawyer who works for the RSPCA said.

“Animals are missing out (on vital care) and the pain being experienced by the hardworking and passionate people on the ground is unprecedented.

“The troubles of the last couple of years and the events of last week especially, are impacting most on those who least deserve it – the staff, volunteers and animals.

“The only people who can fix this situation right now are the board members and the CEO. “This is not the time to be digging in, protecting positions and spending more donor money on external lawyers and private PR consultants.

“The current incumbents in the positions of CEO and Chair must, for the good of the organisation, stand aside. They need to do this to stop the haemorrhage of donor money, to ease the suffering of staff on the ground and to restore trust and faith in the organisation so it can get on with the essential work it does for animals.

“The community is demanding a change for their RSPCA.”

The lawyer said other states had held parliamentary inquiries into their RSPCA bodies and Queensland needed to do likewise.

In a statement, RSPCA chair Justine Hickey said the organisation “strongly refutes” the claims.

Whistleblowers say that in some cases the RSPCA’s care of animals fell short of the standard it expects of others. Picture: File

She said an organisational-wide engagement survey in 2018 had identified the need for “cultural change”.

Mr Maier was appointed CEO in October 2019 “with a remit from the board to redefine the strategy and deliver cultural change in line with a modern organisation and to ensure the long-term financial stability of the organisation, which at the time delivered a $2.4m loss,” Ms Hickey said.

“Our animal outcomes remain strong and we continue to increase our investment in animal care and the inspectorate.

“We are proud of the positive animal outcomes that we can achieve together with our passionate team of staff and volunteers.

“We are a community organisation and always seek to operate in an open and transparent manner. Personally, I would welcome any review into RSPCA Queensland and would be proud to share the great work that we do and the positive changes that have been achieved.”

Mr Maier said the RSPCA’s latest staff engagement survey reported a 16 per cent lift in leadership trust, while administration costs had been slashed to 9.1 per cent of total expenditure.

He said 86 per cent of animals taken in by the RSPCA had been rehomed and an extra $3 million invested in animal outcomes, a 9 per cent increase.

“Our priority continues to, and will always be, providing animals with the highest standard of care,” he said.

The Minister responsible for the RSPCA, Mark Furner, said the State Government was currently conducting a full review of the Animal Care and Protection Act.

“Internal board and staffing processes and payments are a matter for the RSPCA,” he said.

“Anyone with specific concerns or complaints should make those clear to the appropriate authorities, and/or by contacting the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.”