The crackdown comes after activists dramatically ramped up campaigns against farming with livestock theft, live-streaming from inside enclosures and abattoirs in the middle of the night.
CHRIS McLENNAN: Animal activists face much bigger fines if they trespass onto Australian farms… The Victorian government this week claimed its new on-the-spot fines for animal activists who trespass on farms will be the “toughest in the nation”… Illegal hunting also falls within the provisions of most new farm trespass laws.
The crackdown comes after activists dramatically ramped up campaigns against farming with livestock theft, live-streaming from inside enclosures and abattoirs in the middle of the night plus other protests…
Legislation has been passed in Victoria to introduce on-the-spot fines of $1272 for an individual and $8178 for an organisation for farm trespass. Further fines of up to $10,904 for an individual and up to $54,522 for an organisation could apply for more serious offending…
Victorian Agriculture Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said… “Farmers and workers in the agricultural industry should be able to do their work without fear of being targeted by animal activists… they put the biosecurity and safety of animals at risk.” Animal welfare groups have told parliamentary inquiries they should be afforded the freedom to make peaceful public protests…
Victoria is following other states to boost fines to try and stop activists exploiting a weakness in laws to make public protests… The Queensland government in 2020 introduced penalties of up to one year in jail or fines up to $60,000 for “farm invaders”.
NSW has passed new trespass laws as part of its Right to Farm Bill which threatens up to three years’ jail for those illegally entering farms, letting stock out or even tampering with cattle grids. Fines for “aggravated” farm trespass in NSW were to increase to a possible $22,000 in fines.
South Australia has recently introduced a new penalty for farm trespass which attracts up to $10,000 in fines or a year’s jail. Farmers in South Australia will also be able to seek compensation for any damage caused by trespassers…
The Western Australian government is also beefing up its farm trespass laws with a Bill to impose fines of $24,000 or up to two years in jail for “trespass onto abattoirs, knackeries or other agricultural production properties”. SOURCE…
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