Farm trespass law backed
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2019 themercury.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS 1300 696 397 NEW federal laws to combat “vegan terrorists” who trespass on agricultural land, or incite others to do so, will comfort those fearing they will be targeted, a Tasmanian farmer says.
Midlands grazier and TFGA president Marcus McShane said onsite safety concerns were growing in line with the strengthening of the vegan and animal activist movement.
“The vegan and extreme animal activist movement is well organised and they will keep coming. We need protection,” Mr McShane said.
“Our properties are not just our workplaces, they are our homes.”
Tasmanian Liberal Senator Claire Chandler said she had heard of farmers sending their families off property after their personal details had been shared by activists.
Senator Chandler said the criminal code amendment, which was passed on Thursday, meant farmers would be more likely to call the police rather than be tempted to take the law into their own hands.
The Bill establishes new offences for incitement of trespass, property damage or theft on agricultural land.
Senator Johnathon Duniam said the changes would protect the agricultural, forestry and aquaculture sectors from “vegan terrorists”.
“Everyone deserves the right to go to work and earn a lawful living free from intimidation and disruption,” Senator Duniam said.
Under the laws, those who use the personal information of family farmers to incite trespass risk a prison sentence of up to five years. Those who trespass and/or cause damage could be sent to jail for 12 months.
Wood processing facilities are included under the new laws but not forestry operations on crown land.
Conservationist and animal welfare advocates have slammed the new Bill.
The Bob Brown Foundation said further criminalising peaceful protest was antidemocratic while animal organisation PETA warned action against animal suffering would continue.
“Under the guise of penalising animal justice demonstrators, the Government has thrown a noose over almost all forms of onsite environmental protest,” said foundation campaigner Jenny Weber.
“That includes leased native forests, coal mines, eco-tourism sites in wilderness and industrial fish farms.”
PETA said extensive legislation and significant penalties were already available to the courts to deal with activists who break the law.
Braddon MP Gavin Pearce, a beef farmer, wants the “illegal invasion” on crown land by protesters wanting to interrupt forestry operations to also be covered by the legislation.
“This Bill is limited to operations on privately owned land,” Mr Pearce said yesterday.