Get tough on activists

A state inquiry held in Warragul last week was urged to recommend tougher penalties for animal activists that trespass, steal and breach biosecurity laws.

John Gommans, who closed the Gippy Goat café at Yarragon this year told the inquiry there needed to be on the spot fines and meaningful penalties imposed for trespass, theft and biosecurity offences..

A State Legislative Council inquiry that sat in Warragul last week was urged to recommend tougher penalties for animal activists that trespass, steal and breach biosecurity laws.

John Gommans, who closed the Gippy Goat café at Yarragon in early April because of what he claimed to be continual harassment and threats to himself, family, staff and customers, advocated there be on the spot fines and meaningful penalties imposed for trespass, theft and biosecurity offences as well as uniform national laws.

He said Victoria had fallen behind other states and the federal government in bolstering protection for farmers and believed the inquiry now being held, although “a step in the right direction”, need not have been held.

Most people that made submissions in person at Warragul last week chose to have them heard “in camera”.

Principals of two major businesses that addressed the parliamentary committee told The Gazette they chose to do that because of “fear of retribution” by activists, one of them saying there had previously been an assault of a person involved in his business.

He said police had attended the next day and taken photographs of injuries but no further action resulted.

In his presentation that included video footage – posted on Facebook by activists and from security cameras at his enterprise – Mr Gommans was highly critical of handling of the charges in the magistrates’ court.

As recently as early this month a person that pleaded guilty was released without conviction after the magistrate described the charge as “trivial,” Mr Gommans said.

That followed earlier hearings of charges where people “got off scot free” or were fined as little as $1, he added.

The courts have been reluctant to issue penalties, Mr Gommans claimed.

“There has been a lack of judicial support (for farmers) and people now know they can get away with breaking the law”.

He said two of his farm operations, a dairy cow enterprise at Caldermeade and the goat farm and café at Yarragon, had been targeted by activists since last October.

Mr Gommans said the raid at Yarragon by 70 activists when a number of goats were taken in early January had been well planned, video showing it took just under two-and-a-half minutes to remove animals from a pet enclosure and load them into vehicles to be taken away.

When police attended about 20 minutes later the protesters showed no respect for them, the law or property owner and refused to leave private property, he said.

Eight members of the Legislative Council committee inquiring into the “impact of animal activism on Victorian agriculture” attended last week’s hearing in Warragul, one of a number being held throughout the State.

They were chairman Nazhih Elasmar, Sonja Terpstra and Mark Jepp (Australian Labor Party), Melina Bath (The Nationals), Beverley McArthur (Liberal Party), Tim Quilty (Liberal Democrats), Rod Barton (Transport Matters Party) and Andy Meddick (Animal Justice Party).

Several people among the public gallery wore “animal activists” T-shirts.

Mr Gommans said eight staff lost jobs when he closed Gippy Goat café and two at the Caldermeade property had resigned because of harassment they were subjected to.

He described “thousands” of phone calls and Facebook postings generated by the activist movement as offensive and “slanderous” and that “primary producers deserve to be protected by the same laws that apply to the rest of private enterprise”.

“We do not require the oversight by vigilantes, moralists and activists,” Mr Gossman submitted, adding that their operations were already sufficiently monitored by seven regulatory authorities.

He also said the “Aussie Farms” network that had personally attacked him, was abusive, misleading, suggested “people can come onto farms and do what they like” and was aimed at raising money from “vulnerable and illinformed people,” should be forced to shut down.

Mr Gossman reacted sharply to a question from inquiry member Mr Meddick who asked if a Federal department site that mapped farms should also be removed, saying he “felt bullied by the question”.

Report extension

The date for the parliamentary committee to submit its report into the “Impact of animal activism on Victorian agriculture” has been extended two months until February 1 next year.

There were 488 submissions to the inquiry, a number of which sought confidentiality, by the closing date of August 2.

The terms of reference include consideration of:The type and prevalence of unauthorised activity on Victorian farms and related industries and the application of existing legislation.

Activists compliance with Acts dealing with disease control, livestock management and prevention of cruelty to animals.

Recommendations on how to improve protection for farmers’ privacy, businesses and the integrity of biosecurity systems and animal welfare outcomes.