RSPCA scandal: Bombshell claims of animal neglect, lurid sex tryst

A whistleblower from within RSPCA Queensland has made explosive claims about neglect, controversial executive bonuses and a scandalous romp in a company vehicle.

RSPCA Chairperson Justine Hickey and CEO Darren Maier. Picture: Annette Dew

RSPCA Queensland has been rocked by turmoil, with explosive insider claims of animal neglect, controversy over tens of thousands in executive bonuses and the sacking of a senior staffer over a sexual relationship scandal after he raised concerns about animal welfare.

The RSPCA, which has a $50 million annual budget funded largely by public donations, has been beset by strife including investigations into a raft of whistleblower complaints about issues such as conflict-of-interest allegations as well as an exodus of key staff.

RSPCA bosses have strongly defended the organisation, accusing critics of mounting an “incredibly disappointing” attack which will undermine efforts to save and protect animals.

Sensational allegations of a senior official having sex in an RSPCA vehicle and storing “explicit” images and texts on a work mobile phone are contained in documents seen by the Sunday Mail.

RSPCA insiders claim that in some cases animals are dying or being injured in the shelter and foster care or missing vital vet and welfare checks.

However, the RSPCA said that “animals are definitely not dying and being injured as a matter of course”.

RSPCA Queensland CEO Darren Maier.

Insiders claim the number of animals in care and adoption has plummeted while the RSPCA’s 24-hour animal rescue line has been switched to an answering service overnight to save costs at the same time as executives are pocketing hefty bonuses.

One RSPCA volunteer who had planned to leave the organisation her $2 million estate changed her will and instead bequeathed the money to another wildlife group, insiders say.

“Parrots worth thousands of dollars have been killed flying into fans,” one whistleblower claimed.

The whistleblower also claimed that: “Dogs have escaped and been hit by cars”.

A chicken that was seized because its owner failed to feed it appropriately was also allegedly left without food or water in the (RSPCA) shelter for three days before it was brought to the attention of animal attendants.

The whistleblower said that in some cases the organisation’s care of animals fell short of the standard it expects of others.

Documents seen by the Sunday Mail reveal CEO Darren Maier, who earns more than $330,000 annually plus perks, was paid $170,000 in bonuses over the past two years at the same time as the organisation was receiving millions of dollars in JobKeeper payments.

Two of Mr Mairer’s associates who were employed by the RSPCA on six-figure salaries during the Covid-19 pandemic – including his son’s basketball coach – were also paid almost $30,000 in bonuses before leaving the organisation earlier this year.

RSPCA Queensland CEO Darren Maier

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 veteran senior staff member who claimed to have raised concerns about issues including animal welfare was sacked after a probe into allegations he had a sexual relationship with a woman who had been under investigation for alleged involvement in dogfighting.

The man admitted to having had sex with the woman in an RSPCA car and ‘explicit’ photos and texts were found on the staffer’s work-issued mobile phone, documents reveal.

Sources say the RSPCA appointed a firm associated with one of its board members to conduct a nine-week investigation into the staffer at a cost of about $100,000.

A succession of senior staff have left the organisation in recent months.

Two who had been on stress leave were made redundant ahead of yesterday’s annual general meeting where the board was grilled by leading Brisbane barrister Michael Byrne QC about some of the recent controversies.

Six complaints about the goings-on at the RSPCA were made to the organisation’s independent whistleblower investigator BDO Secure in April and May year.

But the board “confirmed its confidence in the Chief Executive Officer” and “there was no concern at all about his integrity or ethics”, documents reveal.

But the board resolved to review its policies, processes and culture “to ensure it supports integrity and accountability throughout the Society”.

The whistleblower said that in some cases the organisation’s care of animals fell short of the standard it expects of others. Picture: File

The board also resolved to “immediately” implement a conflict of interest register and bring in a new policy aimed at avoiding potential conflicts of interest when appointing senior staff known to the CEO.

Emails seen by the Sunday Mail reveal RSPCA chair Justine Hickey authorised a $92,637 bonus and an extra week’s leave for Mr Maier in September last year.

She told him he had ‘done an exceptional job in the most difficult of circumstances’ dealing with the 2019-20 bushfires and the challenges of the pandemic.

“Many organisations have used Covid-19 as a reason to batten down the hatches and do nothing; instead you used the crisis as an opportunity to fast-forward organisational and strategic changes” she wrote.

“At the same time we have been pleased to see the culture evolving into one of openness, trust and team work.”

Documents reveal Mr Maier received another bonus of $77,469.80 in 2020-21.

Mr Maier and board chair Justine Hickey disputed many of the claims, which the CEO described as ‘incredibly disappointing’.

“I find it incredibly disappointing that people would believe this is a good avenue to try and undo the good work we do,” he said.

“Animals are definitely not dying and being injured as a matter of course.”

Ms Hickey said bonus-based contracts had been in place at the RSPCA for a number of years to encourage executives to ‘deliver on certain outcomes’.

She said she could not comment on ‘confidential’ whistleblower investigations but said the board had ‘great confidence in the CEO and his ethics and integrity’.

Questioned about the hiring of associates, Mr Maier said it was ‘not uncommon for people in people’s networks to apply for roles’.

“There was complete transparency in recruitment, there was nothing untoward in any of that,” he said.

“Anybody that I’ve known from my networks (that have applied for RSPCA jobs) have been fully disclosed to the board and also to the broader senior leadership team both prior to the interview and the appointment.”

Board chair Justine Hickey disputed many of the claims.

Mr Maier said claims of a sharp decline in animals in care and adoption were ‘fanciful’.

He said the number of animals in care had dropped from about 51,000 last year to just over 47,000 this year but this was in line with a worldwide decline, with fewer stray pets due to the pandemic.

Mr Maier said the RSPCA spent $28 million on animal outcomes last year, up from $25 million two years ago.

“We have over 400 staff and thousands of volunteers who dedicated 400,000 hours in the last year alone to saving animals,” he said.

“I find it very disappointing that people think this (going to the media) is an appropriate course of action when you’ve got so many people passionate about animal outcomes.”

Ms Hickey said the board took “very seriously any concerns or complaints that are brought to its attention”.