Activists target farms

Animal activists have been roundly condemned after their actions at multiple Southern Downs sites in the past couple days.

Yangan Cary Bro Abattoir protest, April 8, 2019. Picture: Michael Nolan

ANIMAL activists have been roundly condemned after their actions at multiple Southern Downs sites in the past couple days.

There were murmurs they were mobilising and heading toward the Granite Belt, but Stanthorpe police say they've not heard any information to indicate that.

Yangan's Carey Bros Abattoir and a dairy farm at Freestone Valley were both targeted by activists yesterday.

Protesters entered the Yangan site about 4am and stayed chained to the kill floor equipment until a Carey Brothers representative agreed to their demands to free three sheep. A further 150 activists remained outside during the negotiations.

Police have not charged or fined any of the activists.

"We received no complaints from the property owner in relation to trespassing,” Warwick Senior Sergeant Jamie Deacon said. "You need a complaint from a land owner to charge people for trespassing.”

The activist-led Aussie Farms Facebook page claims a camera was hidden inside the Yangan meatworks several days ago to capture footage from inside the operation.

Member for Maranoa and Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said the protestors' actions had only hurt their cause.

"If the aim was to convert Australians to veganism today then these people did huge damage to their cause,” Mr Littleproud said. "Fair-minded Australians find this behaviour extreme.

"Invading people's properties is not the Australian way.

"If I broke into a suburban house in Melbourne or Sydney, I'd expect to be arrested, handcuffed and taken away.

"Breaking into a farm should be no different. These are family homes and children live here.

"I have no problem with any person's choice to be vegan - vegans eat plenty of farm produce too - but making farmers scared of property invasions and stopping honest people getting to work shows no respect and wins no friends.”

Member for Southern Downs James Lister echoed Mr Littleproud's comments.

"I was thrown out of parliament demanding that the Palaczszuk Government throw the book at these people, and so what is their response? Wishy-washy on-the-spot fines, which are laughed at by the protesters. It's just not good enough,” he said.