Coalition to crack down on animal activists

Vigilante animal rights activists who post ‘attack maps’ online of Australian farms will face tougher penalties the Coalition vows to introduce if it wins the election.

Vigilante animal rights activists who post ‘attack maps’ online of Australian farms will face jail under new penalties the Coalition vows to pass if it wins the election.

Individuals could face up to 12 months in jail for posting personal information such as farmers’ names, addresses or workplaces online to encourage other people to trespass on farms or abattoirs.

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Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Attorney-General Christian Porter announced the new measures today after vegan activists caused traffic chaos and chained themselves to machinery inside abattoirs as part of a national protest organised by the Aussie Farms group on Monday.

An animal rights protester who had blocked the intersections of Flinders and Swanston Street is removed by police, in Melbourne on Monday. Picture: AAP Image/Ellen Smith

“We have seen with Aussie Farms the malicious use of personal information, including farmers’ names, addresses and workplaces, designed specifically to encourage others to trespass on properties and damage businesses,” Mr Porter said.

“This is not acceptable and the Morrison Government will, if re-elected, introduce a new criminal offence specifically designed to protect Australian farmers from the sort of vigilante action we have seen this week.

“Penalties of up to 12 months imprisonment will apply to individuals who use a carriage service, such as the internet, to disclose personal information with the intention that another person would use that information to trespass on agricultural land.

“The law would also apply to other primary producers such as abattoirs.”

Agriculture MP David Littleproud. Picture: Facebook

Attorney-General Christian Porter.

Mr Porter said the law would include exemptions for journalists and for situations where the information being released shows a law being broken, such as whistleblowing on animal cruelty.

It comes after the government made Aussie Farms subject to the Privacy Act, meaning the organisation could face fines of up to $2.1 million for breaches of the Act.

Mr Littleproud said anyone who used the personal information of farmers to incite trespass deserved to go to jail.

“Now states must beef up farm trespass laws - if 100 of my mates stormed a house in Sydney we’d expect to be locked up and farmers deserve the same protection,” he said.

“The Morrison Government will always protect farmers, whilst ensuring that those who do mistreat their animals face appropriate action.”