Harsher penalties on vegan activists should be introduced: Toowoomba lawyers

Vegan protesters, climate change activists and other “new age” demonstrators should be given much harsher penalties, according to one local lawyer.

A Toowoomba lawyer is calling for “new-age activists” to be dealt with more harshly under the court system for the damage they cause to local farmers and landholders.

Creevey Russell principal Dan Creevey said these activists, including climate protesters and animal welfare campaigners, whose actions infringe on private use of land and impact the public’s freedom of movement should be dealt out harsher penalties.

Mr Creevey said criminal charges like obstructing police or trespassing does not prevent any recidivism in these offenders.

“Those charged and fined often declare they are ready to take action again as soon as possible so the punishments being metered out by the courts are having little impact,” he said.

“Everyone has a right to freedom of speech, but these new-age activists seem more than happy to break laws and economically impact thousands of people to get their message across.

Perhaps suspended sentences with significant jail time for reoffending and much larger fines would work better to protect the public from these protesters.”

A growing push for legislation to be amended has been set in motion, with some wanting penalties to increase for trespassing charges, particularly into abattoirs, knackeries, and primary production properties.

Misconduct division lawyer Craig van der Hoven said there could be a day where activists face jailtime for their crimes.

“In the United States, the increase in activists obtaining footage has led to the introduction of ‘Ag-Gag’ laws, making it illegal to film and distribute images of a farm facility,” he said.

“There is a push for similar legislation to be introduced in Australia where offenders could face jail time and substantial fines.

“While we want to encourage open discussion, and want all sides of the story to be heard, at the end of the day the current tactics of these activists are more likely going to leave them alienated than supported.”