RSPCA Queensland former staff and members call for state government inquiry

Former staff and members of RSPCA are demanding a State Government inquiry over allegations of mass euthanisation of animals and frontline staff cuts.

Former staff and members of RSPCA Queensland are calling for a state government inquiry into the organisation.

RSPCA Queensland is under fire from angry former staff and members over allegations including mass euthanisation of animals and frontline staff cuts.

A petition demanding a state government inquiry into the organisation has been launched and the minister responsible, Mark Furner, has agreed to meet with the agitators.

It comes after the RSPCA was rocked by controversy including hefty executive bonuses and a whistleblower probe into conflict of interest allegations.

An ex-board member who tried to grill the current board at its annual meeting last week about matters including an explosive unfair dismissal case launched by two former executives was warned she was on “very dangerous ground” and shut down.

The RSPCA has dismissed the latest controversy, saying there were “many mistruths” and the criticism was detracting from the “amazing work” being done by the $50m organisation.

Minister Mark Furner has agreed to meet with those behind a petition calling for an inquiry into RSPCA Queensland.

But a group including RSPCA life member and former board director, veteran animal carer Lynne Keen, are spearheading a campaign calling for a major shake-up of the organisation.

In a letter to the State Government last month, they claimed there had been a “distressing” surge in “unnecessary” euthanisations of dogs, while dozens of “dedicated and long-serving” frontline staff and volunteers had been terminated after raising animal welfare concerns.

“We are a growing group of individuals in the RSPCA community who have witnessed the deterioration of this organisation …,” the letter sent by former RSPCA animal attendant and lawyer Carly Bain said.

Former RSPCA executives George Costi and Nick Crethar filed an unfair dismissal case in the Federal Circuit Court last year alleging they were sacked after blowing the whistle on “maladministration, misconduct and corruption” in the organisation.

The case was due to go to hearing last month but was discontinued after the RSPCA hired top barristers to defend the allegations.

Ms Keen tried to grill the RSPCA board at its annual meeting last week about the cost of the legal action but was told by chairwoman Justine Hickey it was covered by insurance.

Ms Hickey warned Ms Keen she was on “very dangerous ground” because parties had signed “a deed of non-disparagement … and if you continue to speak about this, you are going to put your friends in a very difficult position”.

The Courier-Mail revealed last year that RSPCA chief executive Darren Maier was hired on a $330,000-plus salary plus perks in 2019 despite ‘cash flow difficulties’ at the RSPCA, and was later paid $170,000 in bonuses a time when the organisation was receiving JobKeeper payments.

Two people know to Mr Maier who were hired for senior roles – including his son’s basketball coach – were also paid bonuses before leaving in 2021, documents revealed.

An independent whistleblower investigation found the appointments were in breach of the RSPCA’s conflict of interest policies, but Mr Maier said there was ‘complete transparency’ in the recruitment process and ‘nothing untoward’.

A petition calling for a government inquiry and shake-up of the RSPCA leadership has attracted more than 1300 signatures.

An RSPCA spokeswoman said those behind the petition were quoting “many mistruths” and it was “disappointing (they) are seeking to cause damage to the RSPCA Queensland and detract from the amazing work that is being done for the animals every day.”.

“This is incredibly upsetting to our staff who are empowered to make decisions within the organisation and always make them with the best animal welfare outcomes front of mind,” she said.

The spokeswoman said “save rates” for dogs over the last three years had declined from 89 per cent to 81 per cent due to “an increasing trend of more behaviourally and medically challenged animals coming into our care”.

She said a number of animals involved in cruelty cases has been euthanised under court orders, “doubling the number of inspectorate animals requiring euthanasia this year”.

“Our teams continue to work with these challenged animals to give them the best chance possible to be rehomed, however sadly if the animal does not have quality of life or is unsafe to the community, humane euthanasia is the best outcome for these animals and the community,” she said.

The spokeswoman said that in the last year, the RSPCA had made the “hard decision” to make 11 roles redundant across the organisation.

“We have a responsibility to invest our donor’s money wisely,” she said.

“So, when parts of our organisation are not as efficient as they can be, or not delivering as strong animal outcomes as we could, we have an obligation to look for ways we can invest those funds differently to achieve better animal outcomes.”

Mr Furner confirmed his office would meet with Ms Bain and Ms Keen.

“As a not-for-profit organisation, the RSPCA is a charity and its internal board and staffing processes and payments are a matter for the organisation,” he said.

“Specific concerns or complaints about animal welfare should be made to the appropriate authorities, including the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries.”