Greens Senator Janet Rice says farm trespass is ‘sometimes necessary’

Animal activists breaking the law is “sometimes necessary”, Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice says.

Greens Senator Janet Rice. Picture: Kym Smith

ANIMAL activists breaking the law is “sometimes necessary”, Victorian Greens Senator Janet Rice says.

“Civil disobedience is sometimes necessary to expose cruel and illegal practices,” she said today.

“We know people have been appalled about what is going on with live sheep exports, and the cruelty of some poultry farm operations.

“These practices have only come to light because people when people have been forced to break the law to collect evidence.”

In earlier comments to the ABC, Senator Rice said calling out bad practices was “often very difficult to do” legally.

She said activists who did commit trespass should expect to be charged.

“Then it’s up to the courts to decide whether there were extenuating circumstances,” she said.

It comes after The Weekly Times this week revealed a Victorian family sold their property and exited farming after being left “psychologically damaged” from animal activist invasions and threats.

Federal Parliament is currently debating new laws making it illegal to use a carriage service, such as the internet, to incite trespass, property damage or livestock theft, with penalties of up to 12 months and five years jail time respectively.