RSPCA says millionaire's offer should be no strings attached

By Rachael Brain
Updated October 31 2012 - 2:14pm, first published May 6 2009 - 1:38pm
RSPCA says millionaire's offer should be no strings attached
RSPCA says millionaire's offer should be no strings attached
Jan Cameron.
Jan Cameron.

THE RSPCA's Tasmanian branch has called on millionaire philanthropist Jan Cameron to make her offer of financial support unconditional. Earlier this week, The Examiner revealed that Ms Cameron was willing to resume her financial support for the organisation if its president, Scott Whitters, resigned. Yesterday, Mr Whitters said it "was vital that an organisation like the RSPCA remained autonomous" and "that any charity needs to be careful when accepting conditional donations which have the potential to influence operational and governance processes". But late last night Ms Cameron claimed that there were some "disturbing" statistics that showed significant increases in the society's wages and euthanasia rates, despite a drop in the overall intake of animals. "Why would any animal lover want to donate to an organisation that has nearly doubled its euthanasia rate, doubled its wages, while taking 25 per cent less animals?" Ms Cameron said. Ms Cameron said along with Mr Whitters's resignation, the RSPCA would need to hold an annual meeting and elect a new board for her to resume her financial support. "We know that Ms Cameron has animal welfare at heart and, I'm sure, at no stage intended to compromise the independence of the RSPCA, and for this reason we would like to call upon her, in the spirit of philanthropy, to make her generous offer unconditional," Mr Whitters said. The society's 2005-06 annual report showed an increase in employment expenses from $379,045 in 2005 to $508,017 in 2006, and the 2007-08 report showed another increase from $737,227 to $1,208,842 in 2008. Former board member Pat Gillespie, who resigned in late April, said most bequests or grants came with conditions attached. "Greg Tredinnick (the society's chief executive officer) is currently seeking grants from the (State) Government to help prop up the society's financial situation," Ms Gillespie said. "There will be conditions made to receive that grant, and, when most bequests are left to the society, the person who leaves them places conditions on how those bequests are to be spent. "The RSPCA board has passed as a motion at board meetings where I was present, that we would honour that the bequests would be spent in the manner which the person who left the bequest intended. "So why is Mr Whitters putting conditions on Ms Cameron's most amazingly generous offer of help?"

Subscribe now for unlimited access.

$0/

(min cost $0)

or signup to continue reading

See subscription options

Get the latest Launceston news in your inbox

Sign up for our newsletter to stay up to date.

We care about the protection of your data. Read our Privacy Policy.