Aussie Farms aka Farm Transparency Project privacy investigation comes to end

An almost two-year federal investigation into animal activist group Aussie Farms is coming to an end, after it needed to be extended.

Australia should soon learn the outcome of an almost two-year federal privacy investigation into controversial animal activist group Aussie Farms, after it was extended over “complex legal questions”.

The group, which now calls itself Farm Transparency Project, launched an interactive map pinpointing the details of farms and agriculture businesses back in January 2019.

It was labelled an “attack map” by politicians and farmers as an increase of illegal protests on farms and abattoirs, and the release of “undercover” videos followed.

The Federal Government brought Aussie Farms under the Privacy Act, from which it used to be exempt, in April 2019, allowing the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to make “inquiries” into Aussie Farms’ “collection of personal information” and “notification practices”.

An official investigation led by Commissioner Angelene Falk was launched in November 2019.

Animal activist group Aussie Farms released a map to track farms.

While the OAIC revealed in January this year the investigation was “nearing finalisation”, The Weekly Times can reveal nine months later the matter has not yet been finalised.

“Complex legal questions that have arisen in relation to this case have resulted in the investigation time needing to be extended,” a OAIC spokesman said.

However, farmers could soon learn whether the federal government body – which appears to be the only authority with the power to shut the map down – will take action.

“The OAIC has considered all the information and is finalising a preliminary view in relation to the matter,” the spokesman said.

“The length of an investigation will vary, depending on the complexity, legal issues, the availability of evidence and a range of other factors.”

Data from 2020-21 was unavailable but the average time to finalise Commissioner-initiated investigations during 2019-20 was 9.9 months.

The National Farmers’ Federation wants Aussie Farms and the map to be shut down, with chief executive Tony Mahar saying they eagerly await the OAIC’s findings.

“It’s absolutely essential the OAIC was proactive and dogged in its investigation of Aussie Farms,” Mr Mahar said.

Aussie Farms this year raised more than $175,000 for a High Court bid to overturn NSW laws which prohibit hidden cameras on farms and in abattoirs.