Charges laid over pony deaths on Spirit ferry

Drivers and ferry company accused over polo pony deaths

TWO transport drivers and Tasmania’s Bass Strait ferry company will face charges over the deaths of 16 polo ponies last year.

The ponies were found dead after travelling back to Victoria on the Spirit of Tasmania after competing at a polo match.

TT-Line said it would vigorously defend itself against the charges, to be heard in Devonport Magistrates Court next month.

The Department of Primary Industries said there was no ongoing risk for horses on the ferries.

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

The ponies, on board the Spirit of Tasmania to return to Victoria after a polo tournament at Barnbougle in Tasmania’s northeast, were found to have died when they arrived 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 on January 28-29 last year.

The charges were brought following an investigation by the DPIPWE which looked at all aspects of the transport of the horses from the polo course to Victoria. Charges have been laid against the drivers of the horse transports and also against TT-Line.

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 Strait were individually stalled.

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

“Although charges have been laid ... 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,” a department spokesman said.

TT-Line said it would vigorously defend the complaints made against it by Biosecurity Tasmania. CEO Bernard Dwyer said the safety and reliability of the Spirit of Tasmania services for passengers, passenger 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.

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