Clayton Utz to investigate ag official Julie Delforce’s animal activist links

The law firm investigating federal agriculture official Dr Julie Delforce over animal activist links has been named. And it’s one of Australia’s largest.

ONE of Australia’s largest law firms will investigate a Federal Government agriculture official, after The Weekly Times revealed her co-ownership of animal activist websites that seek donations to fund farm trespass and livestock theft.

Last week, Dr Julie Delforce, a senior sector specialist with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s agricultural productivity and food security division, was stood down from her job, following The Weekly Times revelations.

DFAT said it would commission an external investigation following an internal month-long investigation that failed to uncover the links exposed by The Weekly Times and had determined there was “no reason” Dr Delforce shouldn’t keep her job.

DFAT announced today law firm Clayton Utz would conduct an external investigation.

“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has serious concerns about Dr Julie Delforce’s reported connections to Aussie Farms and other animal rights activist websites, and has commissioned Clayton Utz to undertake a thorough external investigation,” a DFAT spokesman said.

Clayton Utz clients include more than 250 Federal and State government departments, agencies, and organisations.

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DFAT also confirmed Dr Delforce would remain on paid leave for the duration of the investigation, but would not say when it was expected to conclude or what Dr Delforce was paid in her taxpayer-funded senior role.

“Dr Delforce is on paid leave, in accordance with general employment law principles, while this investigation is underway,” the spokesman said.

“The department will not make any further comment while the matter is under investigation”.

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Dr Delforce’s websites — Aussie Abattoirs, Aussie Chickens, Aussie Ducks, Aussie Eggs, and Aussie Turkeys — ask the public to donate money to cover “legal fees” and “finance investigations’’ which they describe as “undercover” and “covert”.

The five websites are owned by Dr Delforce and her husband Robert, under their business name RJ Delforce Investments.

An image of animal activists stealing turkeys in pillowcases was posted on Dr Delforce’s Aussie Turkeys website.

Trade Minister Simon Brimingham said last week: “I am disappointed that initial investigations by the department failed to uncover all relevant information about this staff member, their business associations and conflicts of interest”.

“I have also asked that the failures in this process are reviewed to ensure any future procedures are thorough and effective,” he said.