Industry slams activist slaughterhouse trespass
Protesters have been charged after allegedly chaining themselves to machinery and hiding in a “gas chamber”, as industry calls for the full force of law to come down.
Farm leaders have called for “the full force of the law” to come down on protesters and for government to support “law-abiding” agricultural businesses, after 30 animal activists stormed a slaughterhouse in northeast Victoria.
The group halted company operations after chaining themselves to machinery in a bid to stop pigs being killed at the Benalla facility early on Thursday morning.
Seven members of the Farm Transparency Project were charged with trespass offences by police.
Group leader Chris Delforce allegedly locked himself inside a gondola that is used to lower pigs into carbon dioxide gas.
National Farmers’ Federation CEO Tony Mahar revealed the farm lobby had recently written to a number of federal and state ministers and regulatory authorities to express concern about “this alarming trend of the promotion of illegal activism and trespass.”
“And we expect them to stand firmly on the side of law-abiding business,” he said.
“We expect nothing more than the full force of the law to come down on this intimidating and criminal behaviour.
“Commonwealth laws were strengthened regarding the incitement of trespass for exactly these reasons, and we - and the broader community - expect that they are applied when potential crimes may have occurred.
“Australian farmers are extremely concerned about the illegal entry, trespass and occupation of law-abiding businesses. This is a concern shared by the vast majority of the Australian public, who do not accept that farms and processing facilities should be subject to this.”
Recent updates to Victoria’s Livestock Management Act 2010 introduced offences for non-compliance with prescribed biosecurity measures, including entering agricultural premises without consent.
Offenders could face on-the-spot fines of $1,294 for individuals and $8,321 for organisations.
Further penalties of up to $11,095 for individuals and $55,476 for organisations could apply for more serious offending.
The same activist group allegedly broke into three of Victoria’s largest pig slaughterhouses recently to obtain graphic footage of pigs being stunned with CO2 before being killed.
Delforce allegedly hid inside a gas chamber to take the footage on that occasion, which is currently being investigated by PrimeSafe Victoria for any possible animal welfare and biosecurity breaches.
An Australian Meat Industry Council spokesman said its membership was committed to proper, stringent, and accountable animal welfare practices across the supply chain.
“AMIC believes that legitimate and law-abiding businesses should have the right to conduct their operations safely and without their rights being violated,” he said.
“Trespassing at any livestock facility is inherently dangerous and poses significant biosecurity, animal, and human safety risks that AMIC cannot condone for any reason”.
Mr Delforce said he went into the facility knowing he would be charged.
“Nine years after we first exposed this, there comes a point where there’s nothing left to do but get in there and physically put a stop to it,” he said.
CO2 stunning is widely used globally, including the USA and Europe, and is considered the most humane method at present.
Meanwhile, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he wasn‘t aware of any breaches of standards having occurred at the facility.
“As the son of a beef farmer, I know very personally, you get better outcomes, much better quality outcomes when animal welfare is front of mind,” he said.
“There would be many people who would regard the slaughtering of those animals, or any animals, as an inhumane thing. That‘s not my view.”
However, opposition agriculture spokeswoman Emma Kealy slammed the Andrews government for its “weak activist laws”.
AMIC supports the voluntary installation of CCTV as an individual plant management tool for animal welfare practices.
Delforce claimed efforts to raise the matter with industry and government had failed.
Federal Agriculture Minister Murray Watt said he understood CO2 stunning to be the most humane way to currently process pigs, while not being opposed to viable alternatives.
Three men and four women, aged between 23 and 53 from Melbourne, Tasmania and NSW have all been bailed to attend the Benalla Magistrates’ Court at later dates.
Meanwhile, Australia’s major supermarket chains are being urged to end the use of carbon dioxide gas to stun pigs before slaughter by the “radical” global Business Benchmark for Farm Animal Welfare that is intent on drastically reducing animal agriculture.
The Weekly Times recently revealed that the benchmark was set up by two UK-based animal activist organisations that want to halve the number of animals farmed for food by 2040.
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