Swickers workers charged with animal cruelty after sow kicked, beaten, killed

Drone footage secretly captured by vegan activists brought to light serious allegations of animal cruelty at Australia’s largest pig abattoir but it took the state government more than a year to lay charges.

Two abattoir workers have been charged with animal cruelty offences after vegan activists shot secret footage of a sow being kicked, whipped and killed.

Animal Liberation Queensland released the footage in August 2022 and it shows two Swickers Bacon Factory workers allegedly kick and whip a sow on the loading ramp after it did not walk into the factory.

The footage showed the workers allegedly striking the animal dozens of times before spraying it with a hose.

When the sow would not move, a worker allegedly cuts her throat before loading her on a cart to be disposed of.

ALQ released the footage the day before Kingaroy celebrated BaconFest, a two-day street party that highlights the importance of the pork industry to the local economy.

That festival was sponsored by SunPork, the company that owns the Swickers Bacon Factory.

In the immediate aftermath, SunPork released a statement saying it had stood down the employees and a spokesman said the company was taking the matter seriously.

“Our processing sites are certified under the Australian Livestock Processing Industry Animal Welfare System,” they said.

“The committee regularly reviews standards to ensure that only producers who adhere to best practice in Australia are awarded this certification.”

ALQ held a vigil outside the abattoir on June 15 and has repeatedly called for the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries to take action.

Animal activists, including the Farm Transparency Project and Live Gently, launched a nationwide campaign calling for a ban on pig gassing outside Kingaroy Swickers on Thursday June 15, 2023.

“The charges were laid in early June 2023 following an investigation by Biosecurity Queensland into allegations of animal cruelty at the Swickers Kingaroy Bacon Factory,” a DAF spokesman said

“As the matter is currently before the courts, further comment at this stage is not appropriate.”

The two workers will front the Kingaroy Magistrates Court on July 13.