THE federal Liberal Party has vowed to take a hard line on animal activism if it is returned to power, pledging to make it against the law to use a carriage service (such as the internet) to disclose personal information to incite trespass on agricultural land where it could cause commercial detriment.<\/p>\n
The pledge comes in the wake of several wellpublicised protests last week – including one that shut down a major intersection in Melbourne\u2019s CBD – by vegan activists who oppose certain practices on Australian livestock farms.<\/p>\n
Activists have set up a website showing the location of farms and abattoirs across Australia, and have allegedly stolen animals from some farms.<\/p>\n
Corangamite federal member Sarah Henderson welcomed last week\u2019s announcement by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, which she said would give farmers in her electorate \u201cprotection from extreme activists targeting their homes, businesses and families\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralians rely on our Corangamite farmers and the agricultural industry every day and they should not be subjected to the illegal invasion of their property and their privacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere must be consequences for this extreme behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe use of personal information like names and addresses to incite people to break the law is just not on and we need to take strong measures to ensure these activists feel the full force of the law.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Liberals say the new offences \u2013 which will carry charges of up to 12 months\u2019 jail \u2013 will have \u201cappropriate exemptions such as those for bona-fide journalists and whistleblowers\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur farm and agriculture sector is a $60 billion industry, employing thousands of Australians in rural and regional areas, and we can\u2019t afford to put this at risk because of the actions of these extremists,\u201d Ms Henderson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know that the overwhelming majority of farmers and primary producers do the right thing and care for their animals humanely, and they shouldn\u2019t face this type of law-breaking and deliberate targeting.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis demonstrates that the Morrison Government is prepared to stand up and protect our farmers and agriculture industry, and ensure that extreme activists are called to account for their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE federal Liberal Party has vowed to take a hard line on animal activism if it is returned to power, pledging to make it against the law to use a carriage service (such as the internet) to disclose personal information to incite trespass on agricultural land where it could cause commercial detriment. The pledge comes […]<\/p>\n