Goat farmers left shaken after vegan protest

Goat farmers have been left fearful and angry after being targeted by militant activist protest group Aussie Farms.

Marcus and Shannan Jessen, with son Daniel, at their farm south of Toowoomba yesterday. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

When the Jessen family got a knock at the door from Queensland police on Monday informing them that animal protesters were on the way to their goat dairy farm after two abattoir and farm invasions nearby, they feared for their safety.

Marcus Jessen had spent the past days sleeping in the machinery shed to protect his business and installed security cameras to protect Cranley Park Goat Dairy farm in Allora, Queensland, which has been in the family for more than 30 years.

The family was yesterday left angry after being targeted by militant activist group Aussie Farms which refused to remove their farm’s ­address from an online interactive map accessed by the same protesters who chained themselves to machinery at the nearby Carey Bros Abattoir and also protested at Marella Dairy Farms.

The interactive map lists the location of hundreds of rural properties, including livestock farms, meatworks and dairies, which Aussie Farms claim is based on the number of animals housed at each of the addresses.

“We’ve contacted Aussie Farms to take down our address multiple times but have not heard from them,” Shannan Jessen said. “This is our home. It’s where we live. How is this information ­allowed to be posted?”

Their farm, which is also home to two-year-old son Daniel, narrowly escaped an invasion of protesters on Monday after police arrived to guard the entrance.

“We are living in fear of our safety … the thought that at any time protesters can invade our property and be a risk to our business and family is overwhelmingly distressing,” Ms Jessen told The Australian yesterday.

Activists arrive at the nearby Carey Bros Meat plant.

Attorney-General Christian Porter has since referred Aussie Farms to the Australian Information Commission for a breach of privacy investigation, but Chris Delforce, executive director of Aussie Farms, said there were no plans to remove the information, despite complaints from farmers across the nation. “The map will stay up. It is an extremely valuable tool for consumers to see what inhumane farming looks like and where these farms are located,” Mr Delforce said.

The Jessen family farm is among the largest goat dairy farms in Australia, with a herd of more than 2500 goats. It supplies 95 per cent of goat milk to leading milk processor Pauls.

Ms Jessen said the “vegan terrorists” posed a wider threat.

“If protesters were to step foot on our farm the whole goat-milking industry in Australia would be out of business because of biosecurity issues and contamination,” she said.

“No one is more harsher on farmers and their ethical standards than other farmers. We give our life for these animals.”