Farm trespass: No date for Victoria’s on-the-spot biosecurity fines for activists

It all started with an animal activist and an infamous $1 fine. Years later, farmers are still awaiting change. Here’s the latest.

The whereabouts of long-promised on-the-spot fines for animal activists who breach farm biosecurity has been brought into the spotlight again.

The Victorian Government made a commitment in June last year that it would implement the new offence, which was recommended in February last year as part of a parliamentary inquiry into the impact of animal activism on Victorian agriculture.

The inquiry was set up back in May 2019, after The Weekly Times revealed an activist was fined $1 for breaking biosecurity laws after stealing livestock from a Gippsland goat farm.

Victorian National Party leader Peter Walsh raised the delayed implementation with Ms Thomas in Question Time on Wednesday.

“Work is well underway and we will deliver on our commitments as we always do,” Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said.

“I look forward to bringing that legislation (forward) in due course.

“Despite the protestations of (Mr Walsh), can I point out there already is an offence of trespass and indeed, we have a policing unit which is dedicated to supporting farmers and attending crimes on farm.”

Victorian National Party leader Peter Walsh. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Matray

Mr Walsh said the Minister’s effort to avoid giving a timeline showed the legislation had not been properly prepared.

“The Agriculture Minister bizarrely tried to claim that the delay doesn’t matter because farmers are protected by existing laws – but flaws in existing legislation is exactly why these reforms are needed,” he said.

“When current laws see criminal actions by extreme animal activists resulting in a fine of just $1 it’s clear the system isn’t deterring illegal trespass or protecting hard-working, law-abiding farm families.”

The Weekly Timesrevealed in March that the work the Victorian Government had begun included analysis of legislative approaches taken by other jurisdictions, including the implementation of NSW’s approach, which was recommended by the inquiry committee, and consultation with other Victorian Government departments and agencies.

In September, The Weekly Times was told the new offence for the on-the-spot fine would be created within the next 12 months.

The Victorian Government supported 13 recommendations from the inquiry and few have been fully delivered.