THE RSPCA is hopeful its failed court case of alleged animal cruelty against South East graziers Thomas and Patricia Brinkworth will not affect its relationship with the farming community.
RSPCA chief executive officer Steve Lawrie said the organisation was devastated the case could not proceed. In court last week, the RSPCA did not tender evidence, leading the Brinkworths and three employees to be found not guilty of all charges.
"There was misconduct by a single individual in the preparation of the case," Mr Lawrie said.
"Paperwork which was crucial to undertaking searches was altered in retrospect."
Mr Lawrie said the organisation had no idea the paperwork had been altered until the individual disclosed it recently.
"The one redeeming feature is that the individual eventually disclosed it and as soon as we found out they were asked to resign," he said.
Mr Lawrie said at this time it was not known exactly how much the case had cost them, but it would be significant.
This came at a time when it costs the organisation $1.82 million to investigate alleged cruelty and neglect cases, of which only $660,000 was government funded.
Mr Lawrie said the integrity and dedication of the RSPCA investigative team should not be questioned, and that it was the actions of an individual that led to the case unfolding.
"Farmers need not be suspicious of us, we're not out there trying to penalise them," he said.
"We want to work with farmers, not against them. But, if there are any 'rogue' farmers, it's in the interests of the industry that they are dealt with properly."
Greens Legislative Councillor Mark Parnell called on the Rann government to assume responsibilty for the prosecution of animal cruelty cases.
"At the moment we have a private charity selling lamingtons and tea towels to pay for a lawyer to prosecute law-breakers on behalf of the people of South Australia," he said.
"This is clearly a ludicrous situation. There is a huge difference between the RSPCA prosecuting someone for mistreating a family pet, and bringing to justice the head of a corporation running a large factory farm."
Democrats Legislative Council candidate Jeanie Walker called for animal cruelty prosecutions to become the responsibility of the SA Police.
"The RSPCA needs to be free to concentrate on what it does best - protecting, desexing and re-homing animals and educating the public on animal welfare issues," she said.
But, Mr Lawrie rejected these calls. "To suggest that SAPOL should be doing the work our inspectors do now suggests our inspection team is being judged on the actions of one individual," he said,
"We have never lost a case before, which shows the quality of our investigative team."
Marrabel farmer Ian Rowett, who ran for the RSPCA board last year, agreed that animal cruelty investigations should remain in the organisation's hands.
"If farmers are not looking after their stock at an appropriate level, action needs to be taken," he said.
"Farmers need to be work with the RSPCA and meet standards that are acceptable to the community."
South Australian Farmers' Federation livestock committee chairman Andrew Ogilvie believed the whole issue needs to be further explored.
"I would support an investigation into the RSPCA's ability to handle large prosecutions," he said.
Environment Minister Jay Weatherill said he had sought an urgent report on the circumstances of the prosecution.
"The arrangements under which the RSPCA prosecutes animal welfare cases have been long-standing and have generally worked well," he said. The Brinkworths declined to comment on the matter.
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