Laws pass to jail vegan protesters

VEGAN activists who use social media and website to incite protesters to trespass on farms will face tougher new laws.

The Federal Government passed Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill Thursday, introducing two new offences.

They include incitement of trespass on agricultural land.

This offence relates to using a carriage service, such as a website, messenger service or text messages, to transmit, make available, publish or otherwise distribute material with the intention to incite another person to trespass on agricultural land.

The law would cover dairy and meat farmers, but also other agricultural premises such as abattoirs, meat exporters, fish farms, livestock sale yards, and tree, fruit, vegetable and crop growers.

This offence would apply whether or not actual trespass or detriment results from the incitement.

The intention of a person to incite trespass will be based on all the circumstances of a relevant case. For instance, the inclusion of a disclaimer on a website would not of course of itself be conclusive to this point.

A person found guilty of this offence could face up to 12 months’ imprisonment.

The second offences is incitement of damage, destruction or theft of property on agricultural land.

It is an aggravated offence for those who use a carriage service to incite more serious forms of harm, such as property damage and destruction or theft from agricultural land.

This second offence will carry a maximum penalty of five years’ imprisonment.

For example if an activist posts on social media intending that other people pull down fences on a farm, or steal livestock from a farm, that activist would be subject to the aggravated offence and its higher penalty.

The Bill will be presented for Royal Assent through the regular process.