Andrea Dawkins MP | Greens Animal Welfare spokesperson
Funding cuts to the RSPCA and the transfer of rural inspectorate work to an underfunded, and arguably conflicted, government department are at the heart of the animal welfare issues at Murrayfield.
The response from DPIPWE to the initial allegations of animal cruelty at Murrayfield may have been very different if the independent inspectorate had undertaken the investigation.
The state government needs to properly fund and support the RSPCA to undertake the investigative work to remove any doubt about animal welfare issues not being prioritised by DPIPWE.