VFF refute activists’ calls for CCTV, list of pests killed in crops
Activists’ calls for mandatory CCTV have been backed by the state’s peak legal body, while the RSPCA has thrown its support behind stripping Agriculture Victoria of its regulatory powers. Here’s what VFF president David Jochinke had to say.
PROMINENT activists have urged a Victorian parliamentary committee to make CCTV mandatory in abattoirs and on farms, and for Agriculture Victoria to be stripped of its powers to regulate the industry.
Controversial activist group Aussie Farms’ director Chris Delforce, Animal Liberation Victoria founder Patty Mark and a pro-activist associate professor from the US were among those who fronted last week’s hearing for the state inquiry into animal activism.
Demands included:
MANDATORY CCTV in abattoirs and on farms where animals are kept.
FARM animals to not be exempt from Protection of Cruelty to Animals Act.
AN INDEPENDENT body to regulate the agriculture industry.
PRODUCT labelling, including how the animal died or how many pests were killed in the production of horticulture or grains.
IMPOSE a meat tax to stop “the number one” cause of climate change.
Mr Delforce called for the CCTV to be streamed publicly to “force transparency”.
He said “most people would agree it would be a lesser evil” to have CCTV than “what’s happening in those places to be completely closed off”.
In a submission to the inquiry, the state’s peak legal body advised “improving transparency on agricultural properties would be the single most effective means of reducing the motivation for animal activists to trespass”.
Law Institute Victoria proposed introducing legislation that “mirrors” UK laws which requires abattoir operators to install CCTV which authorities can seize at any time.
Under current Victorian law, food safety regulator PrimeSafe only requires abattoirs undertaking ritual slaughter to have CCTV installed.
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Victorian Farmers Federation president and grain farmer David Jochinke said CCTV on the kill floor of abattoirs could be effective but live streaming all farm activity was “offensive”.
“To go to the extent that every time I’m working with animals it needs to be livestreamed, I find it invasive and a breakdown of trust,” he said.
“Are we trying to have a ‘gotcha’ moment or good regulations in place?”
Mr Jochinke said he “definitely supported transparency”, but having cameras in every loading bay and shearing shed was impractical.
As for identifying all the pests killed in production of grains, as suggested by Georgia University Associate Professor Carrie Freeman, Mr Jochinke said it was “impossible”.
“To discuss how many insects are killed on a crop is impractical, it would only be best guess.
“To promote industry standards … is more appropriate.”
RSCPA Victoria also fronted the committee, throwing its support behind activists’ calls for an independent body to regulate the industry.
When asked by The Weekly Times whether there was a need, due to claims of a conflict of interest promoting and regulating the industry, an Agriculture Victoria spokeswoman said: “Agriculture Victoria leads on biosecurity and animal welfare matters for Victoria, including compliance, legislation and promotion of best-practice.”
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