Activist fined $1 for breaking biosecurity laws in ‘Gippy Goat’ theft
An animal activist has been fined just $1 for breaking biosecurity laws after stealing livestock from a Gippsland goat farm.
EXCLUSIVE: AN ANIMAL activist has been fined just $1 for breaking biosecurity laws after stealing livestock from a Gippsland goat farm.
The Weekly Times can reveal Cara Garrett, 24, was fined $1 for removing an identifying ear tag from a stolen goat and a further $1 for housing livestock without a Property Identification Code in Latrobe Valley Magistrates’ Court last week.
Ms Garrett was among a group of about 70 who stormed the Gippy Goat Cafe at Yarragon last December stealing three goats and a lamb and loading them into cars.
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Both offences carry maximum penalties of $9671.40 under the Livestock Disease Control Act.
The $1 fines, were described as “measly” by Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke, and in stark contrast to the billions of dollars a potential disease outbreak could cost Australia’s agriculture industry.
Ms Garrett, who was unrepresented in court, was found guilty without conviction of both biosecurity related offences, as well as theft and failing to comply with police directions.
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She was ordered to pay compensation of $250 for the theft despite Gippy Goat Cafe and farm owner John Gommans estimating his stolen stock to be worth $2000.
Malakeh Awad, 37, and Yasna Kelly, 25, were also found guilty of theft and escaped conviction but were placed on six-month good behaviour bonds.
Victoria’s biosecurity laws differ greatly from NSW, which can see individuals fined up to $220,000 for creating a biosecurity risk.
Police told The Weekly Times they found the milking doe and lamb, among other animals unrelated to the theft, wearing human nappies at Ms Garrett’s Koo Wee Rup home.
Mr Jochinke said he was in disbelief over the outcome of the case which “should have been a landmark example”.
“Everyone should be up in arms,” he said.
“We’re asking farmers to comply with the law to protect the industry but we are seeing people do the complete opposite and get charged $1 for threatening the whole industry. This is actually a cry to parliamentarians and the people that enforce law.
“Are they wanting an agriculture industry or not?
“If no action is taken we may as well shut down the whole show.”
Mr Jochinke said not only were the fines no deterrent but proof activists could break the law and get away with it.
“I don’t believe a good behaviour bond or a meagre fine sends any message, it’s a serious offence in any language,” Mr Jochinke said.
“When will people’s livelihoods be taken seriously?
“What is the motivation for police to prosecute a case or even farmers to have faith in the law when the law doesn’t stand up?”
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Mr Gommans said he was “disgusted” by the verdict.
“Every farmer in Australia that’s attacked by these nut jobs — vegan activists — now know they can come onto any farm with impunity,” he said.
“Every farmer now knows their farms are fair game to the vegans and every court in the land will support them.”
Mr Gommans said it was difficult to sit in the court and “let them walk away with (his) animals at 10 per cent of the cost”. “We’re not a third world country — we don’t have farmers running around with pistols on their belts protecting themselves and nor do we want that,” he said. “We rely on the legal system.”
He said he too wanted to see government action.
“What politicians have to do out there is stand up.”
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But the Victorian Government as well as Nationals leader Peter Walsh previously told The Weekly Times the current biosecurity and trespass legislation was adequate to deal with activist invasions.
A Victorian Government spokesman recently told The Weekly Times, “Victoria’s robust biosecurity system” ensured protection of the state’s livestock industry.
Mr Walsh said a better way to protect the agriculture industry was for the Government to provide long-term funding to state biosecurity programs.
Three people also charged with theft of livestock from the Gippy Goat Cafe will face Melbourne Magistrates’ Court next month.
Two more activists are sought by police.
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