Labor finally acts on farm trespass laws

Legislation to stop activists trespassing onto Victorian farms will finally be introduced to State Parliament, nearly two years after the recommendation was made.

State Liberal Member for Eildon, Cindy McLeish said this legislation is well over due and knows farmers will be carefully combing through the legislation to ensure there are no loopholes.

Ms McLeish said, “Victoria has been on the back foot in deterring activists with hefty on-the-spot fines. Other States recognised the issue early on and were quick to take action. The State Labor Government’s delay has left farmers unprotected.”

Labor has made sure farmers will be forced to wait at least another six months before the protections come into place, as they introduced the legislation on the last day of Parliament for 2021.

Ms McLeish continues, “Labor’s slow action sends the wrong message to extreme animal activists who will go to any lengths to destroy the livelihood of hard-working Victorian farm families.”

The Liberal Nationals have held the Government to account since the final report was delivered by the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture in February 2020.

Despite the Minister’s promise in January 2021 that the laws would be delivered by the end of the year, the Minister still refused to give a timeline on when the legislation would be ready.

The Andrews Labor Government is playing politics on an issue that’s taken a significant toll on farmers, risked the safety and wellbeing of livestock, and threatened biosecurity.

“Although we still need to see the detail of the Bill, this progress is a small win for the agriculture sector and a step forward in putting a stop to law-breaking activists by introducing on-the-spot fines of $1272.”

“The Liberal Nationals do not tolerate people illegally entering farms,” Ms McLeish concludes.