Call for state-funded pro-agriculture campaign
A STATE-FUNDED campaign promoting the social and environmental credentials of the farming sector has been advocated by the state Coalition.
A STATE-FUNDED campaign promoting the social and environmental credentials of the farming sector is being advocated by the Coalition.
Opposition frontbencher Roma Britnell said an awareness campaign was needed to push back against the rise of the animal liberationist movement.
The South West Coast MP cited the so-called Aussie Farms website as a key example of the trend, which accused farmers of animal cruelty.
“For many years I have said we as an agriculture industry need to work harder to counter the misinformation this noisy and well-funded segment of the community are spreading,” the Liberal MP said.
“The time for that is now more important than ever.
“We need to be proactive, to talk about the good farming does — not only for the economy, but also for the environment and what farmers do to care for their animals, before the activists achieve their goal of stopping farming.”
Mrs Britnell said environmental and animal activists were capitalising on the growing city-country divide.
“A government awareness campaign is needed now to help bridge that disconnect and make sure the truth is being told,” the Woolsthorpe farmer said.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes declined to comment directly on the promotional concept but criticised the Coalition’s lack of action during its 2010-14 term.
“I would rather Agriculture Victoria get on with actually helping farmers get on with the job,” she said. “Supporting (farmers to) do their job through their work on biosecurity, promoting agricultural exports, supporting them through extreme weather events and providing them with the knowledge skills and training needed to grow the industry.
“Activists who do the wrong thing, be it either trespass or false representation will be dealt with and this behaviour is unacceptable and puts hard working farming families at risk.”
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