Aussie Farms activist Chris Delforce’s mother is a leading ag official

A Weekly Times investigation reveals the mother of the activist behind the controversial Aussie Farms map is a senior agriculture official for the Federal Government, who ‘likes’ activist groups online.

Hot seat: Aussie Farms executive director Chris Delforce outside Parliament House in Canberra.

EXCLUSIVE: THE mother of controversial animal activist Chris Delforce — the man behind the Aussie Farms activist map — is a senior figure in agriculture for the Federal Government.

The Weekly Times can reveal Dr Julie Delforce, whose son has vowed to continue to break the law in an attempt to shut down animal agriculture, is the director for agricultural productivity and food security for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Dr Delforce’s taxpayer-funded role involves strengthening the quality of agricultural development initiatives across the Australian aid program.

On her personal Facebook page, Dr Delforce has liked Chris’s controversial “undercover” films Dominion and Lucent, as well as other activist group pages and posts linked to Aussie Farms.

Aussie Farms is currently under investigation for breach of the Privacy Act, after publishing a map tracking farms and businesses across the country.

The Weekly Times can also reveal Dr Delforce is a director of Sozo Production, a company specialising in web design — of which Chris is a major shareholder. Sozo Production designed an ACT Labor Government website. It has designed former federal department websites.

It is not known if the company designed the Aussie Farms website.

The Weekly Times contacted Dr Delforce at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

She said: “No I’m not prepared to talk about that and this is … I’m not sure how you got this number, but that’s not appropriate.”

Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie told The Weekly Times she could not comment on an individual matter, “however, the role of the Australian public servant is to be apolitical and provide advice to the Government of the day.”

Dr Delforce liked the Animal Justice Party on Facebook, of which her son was a candidate for in the last Victorian election.

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Victorian Farmers Federation vice-president Emma Germano said the revelation was a surprise and it should be investigated by the department.

“Given Chris’s constant calls for transparency there should be no problem with this being investigated,” she said.

“Chris has been happy to put up our farming families’ details online. It would smack of hypocrisy if he’s not willing to have his own family then investigated in regards to the work they do.

“What’s good for the goose is good for the gander.”

National Farmers’ Federation chief executive officer Tony Maher too condemned Mr Delforce and Aussie Farms.

“It’s irresponsible, it’s concerning and it’s pretty disturbing behaviour that him and Aussie Farms have instigated in the last 12 months,” he said.

“We’re very concerned about that.”

Dr Delforce and Chris Delforce did not respond to further questions from The Weekly Times.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided a statement yesterday.

“The department does not discuss individual staffing matters,” it said.

“All staff are required to abide by the Australian Public Service Values and the Code of Conduct. The department takes seriously any claims and these would be considered in terms of the APS Values and the Code of Conduct.”