Anti-meat activists say trespass laws ‘no deterrent’

Farm invasions will continue even if new anti-trespass measures are brought in, a prominent anti-meat activist claims.

Aussie Farms executive director Christopher Deforce poses outside Parliament House yesterday. Picture: AAP

ANIMAL rights activists have insisted some laws “should and must be broken” and that farm invasions will continue even if the Federal Government brings in new anti-trespass measures.

And even Australia’s legal fraternity has expressed doubts new anti-trespass laws are necessary.

The head of activist organisation Aussie Farms, Christopher Delforce, told a parliamentary inquiry into the new laws this week that he would not take down his Aussie Farms map, which encourages activists to target farms, even if new laws made its existence an offence.

Mr Delforce instead argued for the criminalisation of animal farming over the next 10 years and accused farmer representatives of giving false evidence to the inquiry.

The inquiry heard significant examples of the impacts of farm trespass and animal activism on farm businesses and families.

Australian Dairy Farmers policy manager Craig Hough said invasions had increased markedly in the past 12 months.

Mr Hough said animals had been stolen, cattle let out of holding yards and on to main roads, sheds burnt down and farm machinery destroyed.

He also spoke of farmers leaving the dairy industry as a result of repeated trespass.

The Law Council of Australia told the committee new federal laws were unnecessary as states and territories already criminalised trespass.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said Labor would await the committee’s recommendations before determining its final position.

Victorian Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said the law gave farmers confidence that the Government backed agriculture. “When there’s a line, and it’s a hard line, and there’s going to be consequences for people who cross that line, that’s the deterrent,” Mr Jochinke said.