A police stock squad inquiry has recommended that no charges be laid over the deaths of 46 cattle on a Queensland Government research station in North Queensland.

The heifers died at Swan’s Lagoon Research Station near Ayr in early May after they were left in a holding paddock without water following a muster at the station.

Queensland agriculture minister John McVeigh asked the Queensland Police Stock and Rural Crime Investigation Squad to conduct an investigation independent of his department.

Mr McVeigh told a Queensland Government budget estimates hearing on Friday that the police had recommended that no criminal charges be laid.

“Whilst the department is responsible for animal welfare in Queensland, it was an enormous
disappointment to me as minister that we lost a number of cattle at the Swans Lagoon research
property earlier this year,” he told the hearing.

“A full inquiry was conducted by the police Stock Squad.

“Following the finding handed to me in recent days that no criminal charges will be laid, disciplinary actions have been taken against those responsible for negligence and there have certainly been changes to management procedures.”