Stopping farm invasions in Maranoa

August 2, 2019

Maranoa MP David Littleproud said farmers got the win they deserve when new trespass laws moved unanimously through the Lower House of Parliament.

“Farming families who grow our food deserve to be able to do so without fear of invasion on their property and harm to their children,” Minister Littleproud said.

“These invasions are dangerous and intimidating, like when 20 activists broke into the Carey Bros abattoir in Warwick or when 100 activists invaded Lemon Tree feedlot in Millmerran.

“This bill will better protect those families by deterring farm invasions.

“Anyone who incites trespass over the internet could face 12 months in prison.

“Sometimes the people encouraging farm invasions need to be removed from society for a while to think about their actions.

“It is completely out-of-line – endangering employees, farm business procedures and wasting police time.

“The Bill includes criminal penalties to protect farming families, with offenders facing up to five years’ imprisonment for inciting harassment and intimidation.

“Our farmers deserve to be able to grow their business in peace because they have a very important job feeding the nation.

“I continue to call on the States to wake up and do their bit by beefing up their animal activist laws and fully enforcing them.”

The Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 also covers other private agricultural businesses such as fishers and foresters.

These new laws build on other actions taken by the Federal Government to protect farmers and their families, including prescribing Aussie Farms under the Privacy Act, meaning the organisation could face fines of up to $2.1 million for breaches of the Act.

ENDS