Australian Pork Limited - High Court challenge launched

Published: October 6, 2005

Source : Australian Pork Limited

The pork industry’s national representative body, Australian Pork Limited (APL) has announced today that it will launch a High Court challenge of the Government’s new quarantine protocols for pigmeat. APL CEO Andrew Spencer said the APL Board had, after closely considering the judgment of the Full Court of the Federal Court handed down last month, resolved to seek Special Leave to appeal that decision to the High Court of Australia. "APL is currently in the process of finalising the precise grounds of the application for Special Leave with its legal advisors. "In light of APL's ongoing concerns about the risks associated with Post Weaning Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome (PMWS), APL will be seeking to have the application for Special Leave heard by the High Court as soon as possible. We will also be seeking the consent of the Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine to that position,” Mr Spencer said. The process of appealing to the High Court is a two step process requiring firstly that an application for Special Leave be made. In the event of the Special Leave application being successful, the matter will then proceed with the appeal being heard by either five, or seven judges of the High Court.

Source