Federal ag official Julie Delforce’s link to Aussie Farms activist website

A senior Federal Government official responsible for representing the nation’s ag industry has business links with controversial activist groups working to tear that same industry down.

Animal activist link: Dr Julie Delforce, the director of agricultural productivity and food security for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is the mother of Aussie Farms chief executive Chris Delforce.

EXCLUSIVE: A SENIOR agriculture director for the Federal Government co-owns a web design company that shares the same address as controversial animal activist group Aussie Farms.

The Weekly Times can reveal Dr Julie Delforce, the director of agricultural productivity and food security for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, co-owns Sozo Production, which has shared the same post office box as Aussie Farms across three states, since 2014.

Aussie Farms, a registered charity that wants animal agriculture abolished, published thousands of Australian farmers’ addresses on an interactive satellite map earlier this year, and is currently under investigation by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner for breach of the Privacy Act.

The Weekly Times can also reveal Dr Delforce’s Sozo Production developed the current Animal Liberation ACT website, which helped form the Aussie Farms website.

Animal Liberation ACT has provided 379 photos and 27 videos to Aussie Farms through its “undercover” and “covert” investigations. It is also a “member” of Aussie Farms.

These revelations come as The Weekly Times revealed last week Dr Delforce was the mother of Aussie Farms executive director Chris Delforce, who has vowed to break the law in a bid to shut down animal agriculture.

online artwork of Delforce flowchart

It also comes as farmers have left the industry after activist invasions and the Federal Government introduced new offences for inciting trespass, theft and damage on farms — in response to the Aussie Farms map.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission documents show Dr Delforce and her husband, Robert, own Sozo Production under their business name RJ Delforce Investments, of which they are both directors and Chris is a shareholder.

The Weekly Times revealed last week Dr Delforce’s Sozo Production had also designed websites for Labor ACT and former federal government departments.

The Aussie Farms website contains many agriculture reports from state and federal governments.

It was also revealed Dr Delforce liked the federal and Victorian Animal Justice Party Facebook pages on her personal account. She has since unliked these pages.

Dr Delforce’s Facebook shows she publicly likes posts linked to Aussie Farms as well as 15 pages associated with animal liberation, including PETA Australia and two undercover activist films produced by her son Chris — ­Dominion and Lucent.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Conduct and Ethics Manual states all DFAT staff “must take reasonable steps to avoid situations where their private financial or other interests (or those of immediate family members, such as spouse/partners or dependants) could be perceived to conflict with their official duties”.

It also states that on social media, “it is not appropriate for staff to make comment that is, or could be reasonably perceived to be compromising your capacity to fulfil your duties in an unbiased manner”.

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A spokesman for Trade Minister Simon Birmingham said “the minister has been assured that the department is investigating the matter”.

Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie said it was “critically important that the Australian Public Service works to maintain its impartiality and reputation for frank and fearless advice”.

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

Chris is typically vocal with the media, but has not spoken since last week’s revelations.

He recently told The Weekly Times “we will not be removing or altering the Aussie Farms site … if we are charged for merely publishing footage or information (including the map) about animal cruelty, we will fight it all the way to the High Court”.

At least two farmers, both listed on the map, have closed their businesses this year after farm invasions.

John Gommans closed his Gippy Goat Cafe at Yarragon after 70 activists stormed his property and stole three goats and a lamb, and a poultry farmer sold his Victorian property after being left “psychologically damaged” from activist attacks and threats.