Celebs funded vegan film which triggered protests

A documentary that sparked nationwide vegan protests was partly funded by a group linked to Hugo Weaving, Abbie Cornish and former High Court Judge Michael Kirby.

A documentary that sparked nationwide vegan protests was partly funded by a group linked to Hugo Weaving, Abbie Cornish and former High Court Judge Michael Kirby.

Voiceless, a former animal rights advocacy group that now dedicates its time to educational material and animal law, gave the group Aussie Farms an $11,320 grant for the film in 2015.

The organisation is headed by Brian and Ondine Sherman but also lists famous faces including Peter Siddle and Ken Henry as ambassadors.

DOZENS CHARGED OVER VEGAN PROTEST

PM LASHES VEGAN ‘GREEN CRIMINALS’

Hugo Weaving.

Australian actor Abbie Cornish.

Cricketer Peter Siddle is famously vegan. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

Activists brought Melbourne’s CBD to a standstill on Monday in an illegal protest to commemorate a year since the film, Dominion, was released.

Dozens of people are now facing up to five-year jail terms after being charged with obstructing emergency workers during the dramatic display.

In total, 40 people have been charged with 122 offences, including assaulting police.

Three teenagers, two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old, are among those charged.

One protester has also been charged with possessing a drug of dependence.

Dozens of people obstructed the road on Monday. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

Dozens were arrested over the peak-hour protest. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Police forcibly remove an animal rights protester. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

Another person was charged with four offences ­including assaulting police at the Melbourne Aquarium, where protesters chained themselves together at the main entrance.

An online petition is being circulated calling for the group, Aussie Farms, to be delisted as a charity while other petitions have called for government action to prevent farm trespasses.

Chris Delforce, a director of Aussie Farms, has faced criminal charges and made an unsuccessful bid for parliament in Victoria.

Police raided his Adelaide home in June 2015 as part of a joint NSW-South Australian probe into video footage allegedly obtained via trespass at pig farms in NSW.

Director Chris Delforce. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Animal rights protesters blocked one of Melbourne’s busiest intersections on Monday. Picture: AAP Image/David Crosling

FARMERS HIT BACK AGAINST VEGANS

He was charged with offences under the Surveillance Devices Act 2007 but the charges were dropped reportedly due to police processes.

Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday hit out at vegans who trespassed on farms, but said it was pointless to chase money for security costs from CBD protesters.

“Peaceful protest is an important part of our democratic system and I’ll defend people’s right to make their point,” Mr Andrews said.

“But I don’t know that they (vegans) served their interests very well yesterday in completely disrupting the city, and for what?”

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