Polo pro Andrew Williams sues for $739k over pony deaths on Spirit of Tasmania ferry
THE owner of elite polo ponies which allegedly suffocated on the Spirit of Tasmania earlier this year has called for better oversight of animals travelling on the Bass Strait ferry service.
Scales of Justice
Don't miss out on the headlines from Scales of Justice. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE multi-millionaire owner of elite polo ponies which allegedly suffocated to death on the Spirit of Tasmania earlier this year has called for better oversight of animals travelling on the ferry service across Bass Strait.
In an exclusive interview, Australian agribusiness king Johnny Kahlbetzer said autopsies had revealed the polo ponies – worth up to $120,000 each – died from lack of oxygen.
MORE: SIXTEEN PONIES DIE IN TRANSIT
Mr Kahlbetzer owned six of the horses which allegedly died in transit while seven others belonged to former Australian polo team captain Andrew Williams.
“We understand the horses died on the boat and that they died from lack of oxygen, suffocation ... why, how, et cetera, is still undetermined,” Mr Kahlbetzer said.
Currently, owners are not allowed on the vehicle decks to check their animals once the boat is under way, but reassurances are given by TT-Line, the company which operates the vessels, that animals are well supervised by crew.
Mr Kahlbetzer said he had seen pictures of the dead horses in the truck they had travelled and died in, on January 29 this year, “and it wasn’t pretty”.
The polo ponies allegedly perished in their horse truck on their journey back to Melbourne from Devonport following the Barnbougle Polo event in Bridport, in Tasmania’s North-East.
Mr Kahlbetzer said he “most definitely” did not blame Mr Williams, who managed his horses and was driving the truck, or his grooms for the ponies’ deaths.
Everyone involved had been left deeply traumatised, he said.
Mr Williams and Mr Kahlbetzer’s company Twynam Agricultural group is now suing TT-Line and logistics company QUBE Holdings Limited in the Victorian Supreme Court over the horses’ deaths for what they allege was a failure to provide a safe environment and adequate checks and airflow for the polo ponies while they were on the boat.
They are seeking $639,000 for the loss of the horses and $100,000 for loss of profits and wages.
The writ – a copy of which has been obtained by News Corp – claims TT-Line was negligent and failed in its duty of care over the horses while aboard the Spirit of Tasmania.
It alleges the horses’ deaths were caused by the Spirit of Tasmania’s failure “to have any adequate monitoring systems for horses in transit” and “to have any adequate air ventilation integrity system for the horses” or “any adequate system of monitoring the horses’ air quality while in transit”.
Thirteen horses are named in the writ as having perished on the boat, with values ranging from $9000 to $120,000.
The writ says Mr Williams was told to leave his horse truck after parking where directed by TT-Line crew and not to return to it until the boat docked in Melbourne the next day.
Mr Kahlbetzer said he was restricted in what he could reveal.
In knocking back an FOI request, TT-Line said it “does not possess any records of animal deaths on, or shortly after leaving, TT-Line’s vessels during the period 1 July 2017 to 1 July 2018”.
A TT-Line spokesman said because the investigation into the horses’ deaths was ongoing, no comment would be made by the company.
AUTHORITIES TIGHTLIPPED ON PONY DEATHS
CALL FOR GOVERNMENT TO COME CLEAN ON PONY DEATHS
The Tasmanian Government – which owns the booming, $232 million TT-Line Spirit of Tasmania ferry service – is also leading the investigation into the horses’ deaths.
It also refused to comment.
The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment and Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, whose vets performed the autopsies on the dead horses, refused FOI requests, citing pending legal action.
The Government’s investigation into the deaths is ongoing, Racing Minister Sarah Courtney told State Parliament on Wednesday.
DPIPWE has come under fire for not releasing autopsy results.
“This is a complex matter across three jurisdictions,” Ms Courtney said.
“Information will only be released when it its appropriate to do so, in line with confidentiality and legal requirements.”
Ms Courtney said the horse deaths was an “isolated” matter and there was no ongoing risks to transporting horses and livestock across Bass Strait.
Mr Williams declined a request for an interview but has previously said he knew there was something wrong with the polo ponies about an hour after he drove off the Spirit of Tasmania because of the lack of movement in the back of the horse truck.
THE LIST OF PONIES WHICH ALLEGEDLY DIED DURING TRANSIT
Horses belonging to Andrew Williams:
Jinx, black thoroughbred mare, valued as $15,000
Dusk, grey 5yo mare, valued at $25,000
Mimi, grey 4yo mare, valued at $100,000
Winx, bay 4yo mare, valued at $20,000
Spot, chestnut 7yo gelding, valued at $9000
Bear Grylls, light bay 5yo gelding, valued at $25,000
Magnum, bay 5yo gelding, valued at $20,000
Horses belonging to Johnny Kahlbetzer’s Twynam Group:
Ferrari, 4yo, valued at $120,000
Felitas, 4yo, valued at $120,000
Fernandez, 4yo, valued at $25,000
Far Cry, 4yo, valued at $120,000
Freedom, 4yo, valued at $120,000
Alladin, 9yo, valued at $15,000
VIDEO: Car fire lights up the night in Hobart
Residents in a Hobart suburb have woken to the sounds of bangs and explosions from a car on fire in their street. SEE THE VIDEO
See who’s appearing in Tasmania’s courts on Tuesday
Here are the names of every person scheduled to appear in the Supreme Court and Magistrates Courts around Tasmania on Tuesday February 18, 2020.