Farmer pleading guilty to animal cruelty receives $8,000 fine

23 September 2024

A West Gippsland farmer, Mr Barry Hillbrick, recently pleaded guilty to aggravated cruelty and a failure to fulfil a Notice to Comply, in the La Trobe Magistrates Court and was fined $8,000 with conviction.

In April 2023 Agriculture Victoria officers attended the property at Coalville, to follow up an animal welfare report.

On this visit to the farm a Notice to Comply was issued to Mr Hillbrick to provide veterinary or other treatment for a cow with a significant discharge and lesion present on the right eye socket.

Agriculture Victoria officers attended the following week to assess compliance with this notice. The cow was in an unchanged condition and no treatment or other attention had been offered to the cow.

The cow was humanely euthanised on-farm by Agriculture Victoria officers due to the large cancerous growth which had engulfed the eye, causing significant pain and suffering.

The Magistrate commented that livestock are entirely reliant on us to care for them.

‘Animal cruelty matters must be taken seriously.’

Agriculture Victoria Acting Compliance Manager Penny Lucas said the weight of the fine with conviction sends a very clear message to livestock producers that animal cruelty will not be tolerated by the Victorian Government or our community.

‘Apart from the obvious pain and suffering of the animals, animal welfare breaches can jeopardise Victoria’s reputation as a humane and responsible producer of food, which can, in turn, affect all producers.’

Anyone wishing to make a specific complaint regarding livestock welfare can contact Agriculture Victoria on 136 186 or aw.complaint@agriculture.vic.gov.au

Media contact: Sarah Hetherington

Phone: 0409 405 639