Animal activists occupy State Government offices in Hobart for three hours

Tasmanian animal activists who stormed government offices in Hobart today have been condemned as “radical” and “out of touch”.

TASMANIAN animal activists who stormed State Government offices in Hobart today have been condemned as “radical” and “out of touch”.

More than 20 activists, clad in black, occupied the foyer of the State Government building at Parliament Square for almost three hours to protest animal cruelty.

Animal Liberation Tasmania spokeswoman Kristy Alger said it was a peaceful protest to draw attention to the documentary called Dominion.

Animal rights protester Kristy Alger on the intersection of Murray and Macquarie streets in Hobart to promote a film exposing animal cruelty. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Animal rights protesters on the intersection in Hobart to promote a film exposing animal cruelty. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

“It was a peaceful occupation of a political space as part of co-ordinated action across Australia,” she said.

“It’s the anniversary of the release of the Dominion documentary and Tasmania features heavily in that.

“There have been so many cases that have been mishandled by the Government with no outcomes and no penalties.”

Tasmanian MP Leonie Hiscutt condemned the actions.

“These kind of radical, out of touch activists are the type of people who control Labor-Green governments,” she said.

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“You only have to look at the shutdown of the forestry industry under the former Labor-Green government to demonstrate that.

“Agriculture is a key pillar of the Tasmanian economy and the Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to ensuring Tasmanians can go to work and run their business in a safe manner free from threats and disruption.”

Ms Hiscutt said Tasmania had high animal welfare standards.

“In 2015 this government strengthened and modernised the Animal Welfare Act, increasing the penalty for aggravated cruelty to up to five years and strengthening penalties across the board to send a strong message and increase deterrence against acts of animal cruelty.,” she said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has blasted “green-collared criminals” attacking farmers and producers, saying they should face the “full force of the law”.

“I think state and territory governments should ensure the full force of the law is brought against these green-collared criminals,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Brisbane this morning.

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