Michael John Hallett: Son of former Liberal politician fined for starving sheep at farms in WA’s Wheatbelt

The son of former Liberal politician Nigel Hallett has been fined $225,000 and banned from owning livestock for life after authorities discovered 12 sheep nearly starved to death on the family’s Wheatbelt farms. Michael John Hallett, 36, of Applecross, and his company Sunpride Sheep Pty Ltd were sentenced in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday after pleading guilty to 32 counts of animal cruelty. The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development laid the charges in August 2020 after 12 sheep were found emaciated and unable to stand during inspections in mid-2018 at three farms in the shires of Bruce Rock and Corrigin. An investigation revealed the 12 sheep — which had to be euthanised — had been “near starvation for at least four weeks”, with most of them pregnant or in the process of giving birth when found. Inspectors determined there was inadequate feed for the 4800 live sheep kept on the three properties — Manor Farm, Pinehill Farm and Ellangowan Farm — which were owned by Nigel Hallett but run by his son Michael as the owner and director of Sunpride. During multiple inspections they discovered 93 dead sheep and 89 dead lambs, while about half of the 1700 Merino ewes on one property were assessed to be in “poor” condition. Nigel Hallett and three of his companies were also charged with dozens of counts of animal cruelty, but the charges were dropped earlier this year. After DPIRD’s first inspection, which occurred on June 1 after DPIRD was referred a cruelty complaint via the RSPCA, Michael Hallett was ordered to increase the amount of feed. But a subsequent inspection of the same property on July 3 found more dead sheep and others “in the final stages of malnutrition”, while another had to be euthanised due to a large flystrike wound. Hallett’s lawyer Tabitha Raphael said her client “simply couldn’t afford” to feed his livestock during what had been a particularly dry season. “His personal funds were low … and there were no corporate funds available at the time,” she said. “He did borrow money from his parents around the time this was occurring … (but) he said there was simply no more money to give. “He had no way of knowing it would be such a bad season.” However, State Solicitor’s Office prosecutor Lachlan Geddes argued Hallett had access to “a tremendous amount of money” via his family’s various assets, including multiple residential properties in Perth. Mr Geddes said Hallett’s offending was “serious” and “resulted in the slow death of 12 animals”. He said the deaths were the result of “incompetent” and “risky” commercial farming. “The only way this could have been more serious is if the starving was intentional,” Mr Geddes said. Mr Geddes also noted Hallett — who initially denied the allegations — did not plead guilty until 19 months after he was charged and only after extensive negotiations. Magistrate Cillian Stockdale said Hallett’s offending was “not isolated” and the result of “negligent farming”. “Animals such as this are entirely dependent on farmers and the people taking care of them,” Mr Stockdale said. “This is clearly a course of conduct that continued for some time until the sheep were detected. “Your own profit was a substantial motivator for you rather than your motivation to care for these sheep.” Mr Stockdale said fines were “particularly appropriate” where “animals suffered as a result of (Hallett’s) desire to profit from farming”. “It seems you knew the conditions of the property were terrible when you purchased the ewes,” he said. Hallett pleaded guilty to 20 counts of animal cruelty and was fined $75,000. His request for a spent conviction was denied. Sunpride pleaded guilty to 12 counts of animal cruelty and was fined $150,000. Hallett and Sunpride were each ordered to pay $10,000 in costs and banned from being in charge of livestock for life. DPIRD regional compliance director Russell Adams said the significant penalty sent a clear message that the inhumane treatment of animals of any kind would not be tolerated. “Mistreatment of animals cannot be permitted to become a business model,” he said.