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Farm Trespass Inquiry Delivers Final Report

Liberal Nationals reject the Committee’s recommendation to legislate stronger protections for animal activists caught trespassing on Victorian farms.

By Portal Admin - 19th February 2020 - Back to News

Background

The final report in the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture has been released.

The Liberal Nationals moved to establish the inquiry after calls from farmers and farm communities for better protections against a worsening militant campaign of trespass and livestock theft.

But instead of backing our farmers, Labor MPs sided with those who want to push their extreme anti-agriculture agenda on Victorians and end livestock farming.

The Liberal Nationals reject the Committee’s recommendation to legislate stronger protections for animal activists caught trespassing on Victorian farms and recommendations that threaten current practices in livestock industries that are compliant with our state’s strict animal welfare standards.

For this reason, Liberal Nationals members were unable to support the Committee’s majority report.

Comment attributable to Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh

Labor can’t claim to support our farmers while handing law-breaking activists a ‘get out of jail free’ card.

This inquiry was a genuine opportunity to deliver the change regional communities have been demanding.

But instead of backing our farmers, Labor MPs are moving to tie producers up in more red tape and run a protection racket for the law-breaking activists attempting to destroy our farm industries.

The Committee heard harrowing stories of the emotional and financial toll illegal farm invasions are taking on Victorian farming families.

Despite clear evidence the response from our courts to farm trespass and theft is not meeting community expectations, the report is silent on ways to improve protections for farmers against activists who break the law.

The Liberal Nationals stand side-by-side with our hard-working, responsible farmers.

Our farmers and agriculture sector are the backbone of regional Victoria. They deserve our full support.

Source: www.gippsland.com

Published by: support@gippsland.com