Animal activists: Victorian Government to set up inquiry into laws
A VICTORIAN parliamentary inquiry looking into the effectiveness of the state’s laws protecting farmers from animal activist invasions will go ahead.
EXCLUSIVE: A VICTORIAN parliamentary inquiry looking into the effectiveness of the state’s laws protecting farmers from animal activist invasions will go ahead.
Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes told The Weekly Times the State Government would support the Victorian Coalition’s motion to set up an inquiry, but wanted to ensure it also looked into measures other than laws, including “education and awareness raising”.
The National Party put forward the motion last month stating “enough is enough” after The Weekly Times revealed an activist was fined $1 for breaking biosecurity laws.
The motion is expected to be debated in parliament today.
ACTIVIST FINED $1 FOR BIOSECURITY BREACH
VIC GOVT URGED TO SET UP INQUIRY
Nationals leader and Victorian opposition agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh said it would be up to the Government to propose amendments in Parliament.
“We believe the inquiry needs to be about the legal protection of farmers,” Mr Walsh said.
Ms Symes told The Weekly Times she wanted the inquiry to be “more wholesome”.
Once passed she said the Economy and Infrastructure Standing Committee would need to report its findings and recommendations by September 19.
But said the inquiry was “complementary” to the work the State Government was already doing and therefore it may take action before the inquiry was complete.
“We don’t intend on standing still while we wait for an inquiry,” she said.
Ms Symes also told The Weekly Times Victoria Police were currently reviewing their approach to how they deal with animal activists and that Agriculture Victoria was reviewing livestock and biosecurity laws.
In a letter to Mr Walsh, seen by The Weekly Times, which called for the amendments, Ms Symes said she looked forward to ensuring “that we stamp out illegal animal activism”.
MORRISON GOVT PROMISES JAIL FOR ACTIVISTS
ON-THE-SPOT FINES COME INTO EFFECT IN QLD
Victorian Farmers’ Federation president David Jochinke said he “absolutely supported the inquiry” and was open to it being more broad as long as the core focus was on laws.
He said he wanted to see “on-the-spot fines and a more detailed process for second offenders”.
“On-the-spot fines should be the bare minimum they get slapped with,” he said.
Queensland last week introduced on-the-spot fines for unauthorised entry where animals are kept.
Fines of $652.75 can now either be issued on the spot or later after further evidence is gathered by police or biosecurity officers.
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ACTIVISTS GO FROM COURT TO PROTEST
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