Animal activists who trespass and steal livestock from Victorian farms, and ways to stop them, will be subject of a state parliamentary inquiry.
A committee will investigate the effectiveness of Victorian laws after a spate of trespassing on farms by animal activists, who stole livestock and threatened and harassed families and businesses.
The inquiry was sought by upper house Nationals MP Melina Bath to tackle "the diabolical rise of on-farm activism plaguing our hardworking farming families and agricultural businesses".
"Animal activists are flagrantly disregarding our current laws, which are antiquated in the face of this new forceful form of trespass," she told parliament.
"Vigilante-style groups are having an incredible impact on the mental and financial stress and strain of our farmers."
Ms Bath said farmers were patrolling fences at night, camping out in their sheds and suffering a heightened state of distress, while the protesters were also creating a biosecurity threat.
In September last year a Mornington Peninsula chicken farm was targeted over two nights. About 300 birds died after activists went into the sheds and the chickens crowded on top of each other at one end of the building.
"If you purport to save animals but end up killing them, this is not a great outcome," Ms Bath said.
The government backed the inquiry with some amendments.
"Illegal activities in the name of animal activism are unacceptable and put hardworking farming families, biosecurity and - frankly - the animals that they purport to want to protect at risk," Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes told the upper house.
"Our farmers feed us, they clothe us. Whether you are a vegan, a vegetarian, a pescetarian, you are on a keto diet or you want to have a carnivorous diet, it is our farmers and producers that allow you to have that choice."
But new MP Andy Meddick, representing the Animal Justice Party, railed against the inquiry and farmers.
"This Nationals motion is not just about simple trespass but about systematically silencing those who expose hidden animal cruelty," he told parliament.
"Animal activists do not wish to break laws, but the current way we treat animals compels them to."
The committee will have to submit their report to parliament by November 28.
Share
