Animal rights activists must operate within the law

It’s good to see the Queensland Government responding to lawless ideologues with a taskforce and on-the-spot fines so those who think they stand outside the law will feel its full force, writes THE EDITOR

Animal activists march in Toowoomba after a protest at Beef City abattoir last year.

THE arrogance of animal activists and self-appointed eco-warriors knows no bounds.

Be they vegan protesters invading farms or anti-mining crusaders blocking the rail line to export terminals, they claim to occupy the moral high ground, motivated by a deep obligation to point out the errors of society’s ways.

Animal Activists invade the Millmerran property of David McNamee last month. Picture: Facebook

In reality, they are a self-righteous rabble and the wider community is growing increasingly weary of their sanctimonious lecturing and utter disregard for the law.

Australia is a country resplendent with freedom and choices. Vegans have every right to choose a lifestyle free of animal products, just as those who enjoy a steak or a rasher of bacon have the right to do so.

There are few places in the world with as many avenues to voice opposition or raise objections, such as social discourse, politics, peaceful protest or the legal system. But that’s not enough for some of these extremists.

As far as they are concerned, the laws which cover other Australians do not apply to them. Hundreds of angry vegans who last month invaded a farming property at Millmerran on the Darling Downs boasted as much, wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the slogan: “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”.

Some of them see it as their right to trespass on private property and target and disrupt companies – resources or agricultural – and individuals going about their legitimate business and complying with all regulations and requirements.

They are bullies. And if you think that’s an overstatement, imagine a baying mob of 150 or more angry people descending on your home or place of business intent on intimidating you.

That’s what happened to Lemontree Feedlot and Dairy owner David McNamee and his family.

That’s what these lawless ideologues are planning to do to scores of others.

It’s good to see the Queensland Government recognising this “new and completely inappropriate era of activism” with a taskforce and on-the-spot fines.

If they want to stand outside the law, they should feel its full force.

THINK BEFORE CLICKING ‘YES’ TO DATA SHARING

DO you ever read those interminable terms and conditions that scroll on for page after page when you download social media apps and online services?

Of course not. Few do. But it is increasingly clear that we should, because they hide hooks and traps.

By ticking that little box to say we have read and understood, we frequently hand control of our privacy and use of our personal data to not only the producer of the app but potentially anyone else they want to sell that information to.

At the clock of a button, we can sign away all our privacy rights and let the tech titans into our lives. Picture: istock

We could be signing away our rights to take legal action if something goes wrong. We are handing over information and power in ways many would never dream of doing in a face-to-face commercial ­interaction.

Imagine, in the days when photographs had to be processed, nodding politely when the guy in the lab told you he was going to hang on to copies of the pictures of your child because he now owned the rights to using them.

Yet that’s precisely what happens when you upload images to Facebook.

It’s good to see the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission framing legislation in a bid to catch up with other ­jurisdictions.

Technology has opened up a world of opportunity, but the ease with which we invite the tech ­titans into our lives ­deserves more thought.

Think before you click.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Kelvin Healey, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details are available at couriermail.com.au