Open Gate Conversations: Pro-farmer Q&A website receives quirky questions

See the success of Victoria’s $900,000 pro-farmer project and when farmers can expect that long-promised on-the-spot biosecurity fine for trespassers.

A question and answer website, which was the result of a $900,000 Victorian Government-funded project to counter animal activists’ anti-farming messages, is attracting some quirky queries.

The Open Gate Conversations campaign, led by the Victorian Farmers Federation, launched just over two months ago and centres around a website that allows the public to ask farmers questions.

About half of the 70 questions asked so far have been focused on animal welfare, however Victorians are also using the platform to find out how to stop their greens wilting in the fridge, whether bagged or unbagged carrots last longer and if you need to rinse a chook before cooking it.

The funding was allocated to the VFF in 2019 by then agriculture minister Jaclyn Symes at the height of Government criticism over its response to controversial animal activist activity.

It included $190,000 to employ a project officer, $210,000 for research to examine the “current community sentiment towards agriculture” and $500,000 for a communications campaign promoting Victorian farmers.

VFF president Emma Germano said the website encouraged two-way discussions for industry transparency and to dispel myths.

“It’s pleasing to see the platform become a really powerful asset to not only help address issues such as ending farm invasions, but also starting a conversation about the issues that matter to all Victorians such as sustainability and climate change,” she said.

“However we need to be realistic as to what measures are going legitimately to stop hardcore animal activists from illegally entering farms.

“Until the Victorian Government implements the urgently needed penalties for farm trespassers based of the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism, farmers will remain unprotected.”

The inquiry committee handed down its recommendations, including an on-the-spot fine for a new biosecurity offence, 19 months ago.

The Weekly Times understands the Victorian Government is still in the consultation stage and will create the new offence within the next 12 months.

In regards to the project, Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said: “Victorian farmers are innovators and leaders in their fields and this has been a terrific opportunity to make new connections with the people who buy their products.”

The campaign has reached a total of 3.9 million people through digital and print advertising, and the website has had about 20,000 visitors.