Cr Ross Bartley’s attempt to support the meat industry of the Southern Downs upended the last council meeting in ways the protesters themselves could never have predicted. The core industry is a major element of the council’s economic development plan.
Protesters enraged with video footage of animal cruelty in abattoirs recently arrived in Warwick to disrupt business at Carey Brothers abattoir in Yangan, Careys butcher shop in Warwick and the offices of David Littleproud in Rose City shopping precinct.
The Live Gently organisation has promoted petitions to shut down Carey Brothers and “stop animal abuse” on their Facebook page. The ABC recently reported that animal activists have provided authorities with video evidence of animal cruelty from footage garnered in unknown circumstances from local abattoirs including Millmerran Abattoirs and Carey’s. Complaints were made to Queensland’s Department of Primary Industries in December 2024 and footage shared with Biosecurity Queensland. The Department of Primary Industry says that the regulator is investigating the allegations.
Cynthia McDonald, speaking in the capacity of a producer, says that the protesters seem to be targeting not just one sector but one family as well.
“My concern is for the meat industry, which is already under fire with tariffs from the USA”.
Ms McDonald explained the scope of the protein industry in the Southern Downs saying that all five phases take place in the shire from growing broadacre crops for feed, grazing, selling stock, butchering and retail sale of meat. “And that’s really important, it shows the depth of the industry here that we do multiple phases. [Protesting] does have an impact on the image of that industry and I absolutely believe we need to show support of the industry.”
Three councillors including Cr Carla Pidgeon, Cr Ross Bartley and Cr Cynthia McDonald are involved in protein production and regularly excuse themselves from voting on issues to do with the Warwick Saleyards.
Developing a “protein hub” is part of the shire’s economic development plan. Late last year, council reported on a Protein Hub (small animal abattoir) study looking at the viability of a small animal abattoir in the region. From this a Future Investment proposal was developed and three companies have expressed interest in moving forward. Additionally, a chicken processing proposal are working with Australian Poultry Products on a “$525 million project to develop a chicken processing facility with the capacity to breed, grow and process between 500,000 and 1 million chickens per week.”
