Public lawyers’ taxpayer-funded support dog FIRED

The support dog for stressed-out public prosecutors which cost taxpayers as much as a junior nurse has been dumped.

Hillman, the black Labrador, failed to get his contract renewed this week after a year with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The canine originally had a three-year deal worth $162,000, but the final bill to West Aussies on Tuesday was reduced to $54,945.02.

A spokeswoman for the the ODPP blamed the ongoing COVID-19 situation and challenges related to Hillman’s care as the reasons for the abrupt end to the arrangement.

But she did claim that Hillman had improved the mental health of staff.

“Whilst there was a demonstrated benefit to staff wellbeing and mental health as a result of this initiative, and feedback provided on a number of occasions was overwhelmingly positive, the ongoing COVID-19 situation, combined with challenges in relation to his ongoing care and the inability to renegotiate the contract terms to suit the ODPP’s requirements meant that it was not appropriate to renew the contract at this time,” the spokeswoman said.

Hillman was contracted to the ODPP from Guide Dogs WA and will now return to the organisation.

Guide Dogs WA wouldn’t reveal what they had in plan for Hillman.

“Guide Dogs WA will no doubt make a decision about what is best for him in due course,” the ODPP spokeswoman said.

Director of Public Prosecutions Amanda Forrester last year told The West Australian the extravagant price tag — which worked out at more than $1000 a week — would cover the dog’s food, vet bills and training.

It raised eyebrows as it turned out to be more than the award wage for a junior enrolled nurse – who would only be raking in $893.90 per week.

Ms Forrester said ODPP staff were exposed to “some of the most depraved, distressing and graphic visual material possible” and were at risk of vicarious trauma.

“The high workload of DPP staff, which has increased further recently due to the impacts of the COVID-19 restrictions, only exacerbates the inability to take the necessary time to recover from the impacts of repeated exposure to this material, resulting in burnout and psychological injury,” she said.