Charges laid over deaths of 16 polo ponies on the Spirit of Tasmania

UPDATED: Two transport drivers and the TT-Line ferry service are facing animal welfare charges over the deaths of 16 polo ponies last year.

Ponies in action at Barnbougle last year. Picture: Supplied

TWO transport drivers and Tasmania’s Bass Strait ferry company have been charged over the deaths of 16 polo ponies in 2018.

The ponies, onboard the Spirit of Tasmania to return to Victoria after competing at a polo match at Barnbougle in Tasmania’s North-East, were found to have died when they were checked after arriving on the mainland

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment said charges had been laid under Tasmania’s Animal Welfare Act 1993 and Animal Welfare (Land Transport of Livestock) Regulations 2013 in relation to the deaths between January 28 and 29 last year.

The charges were brought following an investigation by DPIPWE which looked at all aspects of the transport of the horses from the Tasmanian polo course to Victoria.

Charges have been laid against the drivers of the horse transports and also against TT-Line.

TT-Line, which operates the Spirit of Tasmania vessels, has been charged in relation to the deaths of 16 polo ponies last year. Picture: CHRIS KIDD

TT Line and the driver of the vehicle the horses died in will be charged under section 7 of the Tasmanian Animal Welfare Act 1993 with allegedly using a method of management that was reasonably likely to cause unreasonable and unjustifiable pain and suffering to an animal or group of animals.

Both parties will also face charges under regulation 34 (6) of the Tasmanian Animal Welfare (Land Transport of Livestock) Regulations 2013 for allegedly failing to ensure that horses being transported across Bass Straight were individually stalled.

The driver of the second vehicle is also facing charges under regulation 34 (6) of the Regulations.

“Although charges have been laid following investigation of the matter, they relate to a specific set of circumstances and the Department reiterates previous advice that there is no ongoing risk for the continued movement of horses across Bass Strait in line with regulatory standards,” a DPIPWE spokesman said.

TT-Line said it would vigorously defend the itself against the complaints made by Biosecurity Tasmania.

CEO Bernard Dwyer said the safety and reliability of the Spirit of Tasmania services for passengers, vehicles and freight had always been, and would continue to be, of critical importance to the company.

“We have been working closely with Biosecurity Tasmania for many months on animal transport and are surprised by the charges,” Mr Dwyer said.

“We note the comments made by Biosecurity Tasmania immediately after the incident that the department was confident that there was not an ongoing risk for the transport of horses across Bass Strait and it was an isolated incident.”

Separate charges have been laid against another horse transport company over another incident over the same period during which unaffected horses were not individually stalled.

The ferry company and the two transport drivers will appear in Devonport Magistrates Court next month.