Stop the farm invasions inspired by Aussie Farms map

Farmers need more protection from illegal activists, argues Brian Ahmed.

Hit list: Hundreds of animal-related businesses, pinpointed on a map created by animal activist group Aussie Farms, have been targeted by protesters.

OVER the past two months, the Victorian Parliament has listened to farmers about the impact of farm invasions on farming families, our industries, and our way of life.

As a chicken egg farmer myself, I presented to the inquiry last month along with my daughter, Danyel, who I hope will one day take over our family farm.

Danyel spoke with passion about her love of farming and desire to keep our multi-generational farm growing into the future.

Brian Ahmed.

But, as Danyel told the inquiry, with the rise in farm invasions, she is too scared to live on the farm with her young family.

Activists have already targeted our farm on multiple occasions, our farm is on the Aussie Farms attack map, and we have received death threats over the phone and on social media.

Activists try to pretend that farm invasions are peaceful protests, but they don’t appreciate how terrifying it is to be woken in the middle of the night by an unknown number of masked people attempting to break into your farm.

This form of invasion and attack would be absolutely unacceptable in any other workplace or home, and it cannot be accepted on farms.

As a farmer, it feels like the current system is failing to protect my family, my home and my business.

We need the Parliament to fix our broken legal system that does nothing to punish and deter farm invaders.

MORE: ‘HYPOCRITICAL’ DELFORCE LEAVES HIS FAMILY OFF FARM MAP

FEDERAL AG OFFICIAL’S LINK TO ACTIVIST GROUP

CHRIS DELFORCE’S FEDERAL GOVT LINK

As we have seen time and time again, activists wilfully defy the law without fear of consequences.

They continue to invade family farms and even repeatedly attack the same farm over a series of weeks.

At the inquiry, we called for tougher farm trespass penalties, similar to other states, which would see $1000 on-the-spot fines, $220,000 fines for individuals and $400,000 fines for organisations.

Having heard our story and ­shocking stories from other farming families over the inquiry, I hope there is no doubt in the minds of the ­members of the Victorian Parliament that we need tougher laws to protect our farming families, defend their homes and deter invaders.

• Brian Ahmed is Victorian Farmers Federation egg group president