Dear Readers, with the elections over I felt it time to contact the ABC (Barrie Cassidy and Michael Rowlands) and hopefully they can ask some pertinent questions of any politicians presenting on their programmes. Email format as below, and picture shows that the RSPCA NSW is a public company! When I spoke to various party workers on Election Day I could see that most of them did not believe me!

Dear Barrie Cassidy/ Michael Rowlands, I write to you regarding the recent NSW elections and the resignation of the Minister for Primary Industries, Hon Niall Blair.For over 3 years I have been running an online petition on change.org titled Tell the RSPCA NSW That this is Cruel! For that time I have tried to get that Minister to answer questions regarding Animal Welfare issues and with the run up to the recent I emailed all the major parties. None replied, and I ask that when you interview any politicians can you consider asking them about Animal Welfare in both NSW and also federally.My petition has attracted over 15000 readers now with some scathing comments about the way animals are treated in Australia

Below is the email I have asked of those parties.

To Heads of political parties, NSW.

Dear Sir, Madam

I write regarding the forthcoming state elections in NSW and your party’s views on Animal Welfare.

For the last 3 years I have run a petition site on change.org titled `Tell the RSPCA NSW that this is cruel!’. It details the very poor care that animals seem to experience in NSW at the hands of RSPCA NSW. The petition presently has over 14000 signatures and I am sure many of them will be NSW residents.

I ask (1) how does your party intend to improve animal welfare in NSW?

(2) Will you continue to support a public company (RSPCA NSW) when the published figures for animal euthanasia demonstrate the very poor service that this organisation provides for animals in need?

(3) Will your party consider only supporting deserving charities?

Both the major parties seem to have a poor track record in regard to this subject. Previous state opposition leader Luke Foley was outspoken in getting the greyhound racing ban reversed, even when there was considerable proof that live animals were being ripped apart in dog training sessions, and pressure from Coalition MP’s may have been the cause of the previous Premier to resign after he approved the ban, and our present Minister Responsible for Animal Welfare has been outstanding in ignoring or not answering issues that have been brought to his attention! Also I wrote to the Shadow Minister for Primary Industries and he did not respond, which has made me think he has very little interest in an animal welfare issues as well!

I hope to publish on that petition site any comments you wish to make.

Regards Keith Climpson.

Regarding my question re only supporting deserving charities I can speak from person experience when I say there are deserving and caring organisations where taxpayers money can be better spent than the over 1 million dollars given to RSPCA NSW. It may come as a surprise that the RSPCA NSW is a public company, but my attachment does show that to be the case. Their ABN is 87 000 001 641.

Would you be able to ask politicians that present on your program what they can do to improve these issues and if the present state government will continue to give funds to an organisation that seems to have little regard for cruelty issues? Also what is the criteria for the donation to RSPCA NSW?

Thanks for your anticipated help, Keith