Former WA pork boss Russell Cox in legal bid over alleged unpaid wages

The former boss of WA’s peak pork body — recently convicted of stealing from the organisation — has launched legal action claiming to be owed more than $100,000. Russell Cox has sued the WA Pork Producers Association in the District Court, claiming to be owed $112,488.75 for allegedly “unpaid wages for work performed”. Mr Cox had been chief executive of the association for almost a decade before his employment was terminated in 2014. He was convicted in the Perth Magistrate’s Court on August 17 of stealing $9987 as a servant of the association in May 2014. Mr Cox, 73, pleaded guilty and received a suspended eight months jail sentence. He was ordered to repay the $9987. Prosecutor David Jones told the court that Mr Cox transferred $9987 from WAPPA’s account to his own personal bank account. Mr Jones said Mr Cox faxed a request to Bankwest using the electronic signature of former president Richard Evison and the funds were then transferred into Mr Cox’s bank account. Many in the pork industry credit Mr Cox for pioneering agreements which allowed WA farms and processors to grow by accessing overseas workers. But his legacy became clouded in 2015 when the association said in its annual report that there was a “breakdown in trust between Mr Cox and the executive resulting in his dismissal”. The action is due before District Court on December 18.