Activists target Victorian farms to “liberate” livestock
ANIMAL rights activists breaking into farms are making “a mockery” of property rights, says Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke.
ANIMAL rights activists breaking into farms are making “a mockery” of property rights, says Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke.
Mr Jochinke said he had “zero tolerance” for the behaviour which he described as a “right to farm” issue.
“By allowing this to happen, it does make a mockery of our property rights and how we structure our community. If I broke into someone’s house and stole property, I would be prosecuted,” he said.
Mr Jochinke’s comments come after a group of about 70 activists, many of them teenagers, stormed Gippy Goat Cafe at Yarragon the weekend before Christmas, allegedly stealing three goats and a lamb and loading them into the back of cars.
John Gommans, who owns the goat farm and tourist cafe where they milk 1900 goats, said farmers across the state had been targeted by vegan activists.
Mr Gommans said it wasn’t the first time his farms have fallen victim to this kind of livestock theft. Three goats and two calves were allegedly stolen from his Caldermeade property in October.
Mr Gommans said many of the activists were familiar faces.
Activists publicly declared their involvement on social media and have shared confronting videos of what they say is mistreatment of animals at the farm as justification.
“It’s important we show up in spaces like this — going to places that are seemingly ethical,” activist Joanne Lee said.
“We’re not attacking farmers and the farming community. This is about challenging our conditioning.”
Mr Gommans denied the activists’ claims of cruelty, including that a goat had only been taken after an on-site vet refused it treatment.
“They are saying the goat had a fatal disease. It didn’t,” he said. “It had a sore foot and it was under treatment.”
Ms Lee could not confirm where the livestock had been taken.
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