Chris Delforce said activists would not be deterred by the threat. 'Morrison is supposed to be governing for all Australians, not just big agribusiness. Perhaps instead of going after charities and whistleblowers, they could criminalize animal cruelty.'
LATIKA BOURKE: ‘Activists responsible for bringing Melbourne to a standstill earlier this year have been warned they could be stripped of their charitable status for promoting unlawful activity. Charities Minister Zed Seselja said he had “serious concerns” that activist organisation Aussie Farms could undermine public trust in established charities and has referred Aussie Farms to Charities Commissioner Gary Johns who has the power to strip non government organisations of their special tax status…
The tax classification allows registered organisations to qualify for tax concessions, including allowing donors to claim their contributions as tax-deductible gifts… The Morrison government has already moved to bring Aussie Farms under the Privacy Act, exposing the organisation to major fines. Last week, it passed anti-farm trespass laws through the House of Representatives.
Aussie Farms’ Chris Delforce said activists would not be deterred by the threat. “Both Scott [Morrison] and Zed need a reminder that they are supposed to be governing for all Australians, not just big agribusiness,” he said. “Perhaps instead of going after charities and whistleblowers, they could criminalise animal cruelty and start assisting animal farmers in moving towards more ethical and environmentally sustainable methods of income.”
The organisation has promised to continue its campaign against factory farming which includes the publication of an online map of every farm and abattoir in Australia, raiding slaughter houses across the country… Earlier this year, activist James Warden entered a pig farm in the middle of the night and live-streamed conditions on social media. During another protest in Harvey, Western Australia, shots were fired by farmer Jason Parravinci who says he was scaring off vermin in an incident just after an altercation with Warden and other activists’. SOURCE…
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