Animal activist farm invasions: Industry urge for stiffer penalties
STOCK agents, transporters, pig and poultry industry representatives and even police are calling on the Victorian Government for stronger fines to be slapped on animal activists invading farms and stealing livestock.
STOCK agents, transporters, pig and poultry industry representatives and even police are calling on the Victorian Government for stronger fines to be slapped on animal activists invading farms and stealing livestock.
It comes after two activists were last week fined nearly $10,000 for trespassing on farms in Western Australia, making a mockery of a recent Victorian case where an activist received two $1 fines for breaking biosecurity laws after stealing livestock.
WA ACTIVISTS FINED OVER FARM TRESPASS
ACTIVIST FINED $1 FOR BIOSECURITY BREACH
The industry players are members of the Victoria’s Livestock Industry Consultative Council, which met on Monday to discuss the impact of activists.
Victorian Farmers Federation livestock group chairman, and council member, Leonard Vallance said “the whole of the industry is united in the view activists have overstepped the mark”.
“They’re behaving recklessly in regard to biosecurity on farms and endangering agriculture with their activities,” Mr Vallance said.
“There needs to be much stronger fines and much greater understanding from magistrates about the effects (activists) have on farms.”
As the industry body that advises the Government, Mr Vallance said the group planned to share their views with relevant state ministers.
FARMER GOES UNDERCOVER AS ANIMAL ACTIVIST
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has also demanded state governments increase penalties following the Victorian and West Australian cases, and an incident over the weekend where 100 activists invaded a feedlot and dairy in the Darling Downs, Queensland.
“The slaps on the wrist being handed out to animal activists invading family farms is encouraging them to escalate their efforts,” he said.
BARNABY JOYCE WARNS OF ‘UGLY CONSEQUENCES’
ANTI-ACTIVIST PETITION LAUNCHED
Meanwhile, both a national and Victorian petition have been launched to encourage politicians to take farm invasions more seriously.
The National Farmers’ Federation petition to strengthen farm trespass laws is calling on both major federal parties to commit to action.
It has gained the support of more than 3500 people.
The Victorian parliamentary petition by John Gommans, owner of Gippy Goat Cafe and farm, sponsored by Eastern Victoria state Nationals MP Melina Bath, has racked up more than 1600 signatures.
It asks the Victorian Government to revoke controversial activist group Aussie Farms’ charity status, shut down its website and implement stronger laws “to appropriately penalise trespassers”.
INQUIRY NEEDED, GOVERNMENT TOLD
The petition is addition to a motion Ms Bath submitted last week asking the Government to set up an inquiry into laws protecting farmers from animal activist invasions.
Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes did not say if she would vote for the inquiry when asked by The Weekly Times, but said “a parliamentary committee will ultimately be a matter for the parliament”.
“It is already illegal to trespass on farms and steal animals and courts can impose significant fines.”
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