The State Government is cracking-down on animal rights activists trespassing on farms with the strict enforcement of on-the-spot fines.
Minister for Agriculture, Jaclyn Symes tabled the Government’s response to the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture in Parliament, after considering the recommendations published in February.
In a statement, Ms Symes said the Government’s response supported 13 of the 15 recommendations in full, one in principle and did not support one recommendation.
“Our farmers and agricultural businesses should be free to do their work without fear of being targeted by animal activist groups, who put hard working farming families, biosecurity and the animals they purport to protect at risk,” Ms Symes said.
“These recommendations are not just about deterrence, but also education – the public deserve to know just how hard farmers and agricultural businesses work to keep their animals safe and well looked after,” she said.
Ms Symes said the Inquiry’s findings had identified ways to strengthen approaches to animal welfare and biosecurity as well as to build and maintain public confidence in agriculture.
“Recommendations supported include incorporating on-the-spot fines for biosecurity breaches caused by trespassers in legislation,” she said.
“The Government will introduce this legislation with a view to making fines for this behaviour among the heaviest in Australia.”
She said other supported recommendations included working with farmers in developing biosecurity management plans; actions on animal welfare complaints for better public education; and the consideration of implementing closed-circuit cameras in abattoirs.
The Inquiry was conducted by the Victorian Parliament’s Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee in 2019 and chaired by Nazih Elasmar.
The State’s 10-page response to its findings can be accessed at this PS News link.
