Federal Minister for Agriculture David Littleproud is demanding State Governments increase trespass laws and penalties after another animal activist invasion, this time at Lemon Tree feedlot near Millmerran on Queensland’s Darling Downs.
A scene of the farm invasion from a video posted on the Animal Activists Collective Facebook page.
Police were called when 100 animal activists invaded a feedlot and dairy, which is listed on the Aussie Farms activist attack map.
The Queensland Police told Beef Central that officers from the Millmerran and Dalby stations responded at 11.45am on Saturday to reports that approximately 80-100 protesters had arrived at the feedlot.
A QPS spokesperson said the protestors entered the feedlot, took photographs of animals and then left the site.
“No damage was sustained, there were no injuries or threats and therefore no arrests,” the QPS statement said.
“However, investigations are continuing”.
Activist’s tyres slashed
Queensland Police also told Beef Central they are investigating a related incident in which a van driven by a group of activists had its tyres slashed by an unknown motorbike rider without registration plates.
A 20 minute video posted to the Animal Activist’s Collective Facebook page recorded by one of the group members shows about 150 people wearing “Meat is Murder” T-Shirts, many with faces covered by white dust masks, trespassing onto private property and then entering and walking around the feedlot, and directing hostile comments towards feedlot owners and employees.
The trespassers’ shirts also carried the message: “one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws”.
‘An absolute disgrace’: Littleproud
Mr Littleproud said the onus is on the States to create serious penalty for trespassing on family farms.
“For police from surrounding towns to be called to protect farming families is a waste of resources, a broader public safety issue and an absolute disgrace,” he said.
“Animal Welfare groups have lost their social licence. They have no moral compass when they are prepared to intimidate innocent Australians and their actions taints their own cause.
“Aussie Farms can no longer pretend its map is anything but an attack map for activists, as I’ve been saying for months – this is the second invasion onto a property listed on their map in recent months.
“The slaps on the wrist being handed out to animal activists invading family farms is encouraging them to escalate their efforts. A real deterrent is needed before someone gets seriously hurt or killed. There are children living on these family farms.
“I again call for calm from all involved.
“Vegans eat plenty of farm produce and I respect their right to be vegan.
“However nobody has the right to trespass onto people’s family properties.
“Nobody would like to see a stranger show up at their residence where their children live and I’m genuinely worried there will be a serious incident.
“We’ve seen utterly ridiculous penalties handed out to trespassing and thieving animal activists in the past few months.
“Today’s incident follows the $1 fine issued over the Gippy Goats invasion in Victoria, and a $200 fine to a Sunshine Coast offender who trespassed at a piggery – she received less for the third offence than she did for the second.
‘An accident waiting to happen’: AgForce
AgForce has called for aggressive animal activists who illegally enter primary enterprises like feedlots and farms to be subject to the full force of the law, saying it was only a matter of time before one these dangerous stunts ended in serious injury or death.
AgForce CEO Michael Guerin said that, far from the caring, peace-loving image these protestors like to portray, they are violent bullies who rely on, threats, intimidation and terror to push their radical agenda
“Harsh words and condemnation mean nothing to the thugs perpetrating these acts,” Mr Guerin said
“Peaceful protest is one thing, but trespassing onto someone else’s property, frightening children and animals, breaching biosecurity measures that are there to protect everyone – this is criminal activity we’re witnessing and it’s going unpunished
“My biggest concern is that it’s going to take someone getting seriously hurt or even killed before Governments increase the penalties to fit the seriousness of the crime and the courts start enforcing them
“I know I’d feel threatened by the sort of mob action that took place on the weekend if they came over my back fence. I’d fear for the safety of my family. These are not the actions of a peaceful, law-abiding group,” Mr Guerin said
Mr Guerin said he respected a person’s right not to eat meat, but that shouldn’t extend to being able to commit acts of violence and terror against those who do, or against those who produce it. He added the recent fines handed out for trespassing onto family farms – $1 for the Gippy Goats invasion in Victoria, and $200 to a Sunshine Coast offender who trespassed at a piggery – made a mockery of the seriousness of the situation
“Farmers are good, kind-hearted people just going about their daily business of feeding Australian families. They treat their livestock humanely and they look after the health of their animals,” he said.
“It was only a week ago that activists in Victoria vowed to continue trespassing onto family farms, and now this happens in Maranoa in Queensland
“Clearly these extremists don’t feel deterred. How could you with those sorts of fines?
“We need to get as serious about protecting the lives and livelihoods of the farmers who produce the food we eat every day as these terrorists are about terrifying them
“Governments have to take steps now to put an end to this escalating action before it’s too late.”