The operators of a sheep farm on Bruny Island in Tasmania run by the Commonwealth's Indigenous Land Corporation could have been taken to court for animal cruelty, departmental documents obtained by the ABC have shown.

Key points: Murrayfield found to have not culled an injured sheep soon enough

Murrayfield found to have not culled an injured sheep soon enough Fined $280 instead of taken to court

Fined $280 instead of taken to court Animal rights campaigners say "woefully inadequate"

The results of an investigation into Murrayfield Station from Tasmania's Primary Industries Department have been obtained through Right to Information.

The station was established to teach best-practice agriculture to young Aboriginal people and is operated by the Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC), a corporate Commonwealth body.

One letter from Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment's (DPIPWE) Colin Jessup to the Indigenous Land Corporation detailed an inspection of the property, where a paralysed sheep was found not to have been euthanased.

"Clearly this sheep should have been culled immediately after the injury occurred and I am certain that the lack of prompt culling caused the sheep to suffer unjustifiable pain and suffering for an extended period of time," the letter said.

"The inaction was quite unacceptable.

"It has been determined that there is adequate evidence against [property manager Bruce] Michael as an individual, as well as the ILC, to lodge a complaint in a magistrates court for the matter to be heard as an 'animal cruelty' case, however we have decided against this."

The Department instead chose to issue a fine of $280.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) campaign coordinator Claire Fryer said it was a woefully inadequate response.

"They acknowledged there was sufficient evidence to proceed with an animal cruelty case but they decided not to, that's simply unacceptable," she said.

"And it sends a message to the industry that this behaviour is condoned by authorities."

Former employee raised concerns

Former employee Peter Clarke has alleged animal neglect and cruelty at Murrayfield Station for two years.

His claims were followed by a random inspection by the Primary Industries Department that resulted in the fine being issued.

Sorry, this video has expired Murrayfield animal cruelty concerns ( Richard Baines )

Mr Clarke claimed the mistreatment of animals was more widespread.

"Broken legs on lambs, and at other times when shearing and crutching broken-legged sheep, at lambing times there was ewes with prolapses which had gone untreated," he said.

"Eye cancers, matters of starvation, sheep were found either from worms or a combination of starvation and worms, there were found to be multiple dead sheep in the paddock," he said.

He said he was concerned there still might be animal welfare issues on the property.

"From what I've been told by a worker there, animal cruelty and animal welfare is still an issue on Murrayfield," he said.

The DPIPWE declined to be interviewed, but issued a short statement.

"[DPIPWE] can confirm that it received a report of alleged animal cruelty against a property in the state's south east," it said.

The department said it investigated the allegations and took enforcement action based on that investigation which included a fine and directions.

"The department has conducted a re-inspection and had further contact with the property and is not aware of, nor detected, any current animal welfare issues," a spokesman said.

"The Indigenous Land Council (ILC) has been in correspondence with the department and indicated strongly that it takes animal welfare issues very seriously.

"The department has worked constructively with the ILC and will continue to do so with the Tasmanian Aboriginal community as the new owners."

The ILC said the infringement notice concerned one sheep out of more than 10,000.

"The ILC took responsibility for this and the station manager has been counselled regarding this incident," it said in a statement released this afternoon.

"The ILC has taken this incident very seriously and has upgraded its existing animal welfare procedures, which were compliant with industry standards, to international best practice."

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