Government says legislation designed to strengthen state’s response to animal security, while critics describe move as ‘ag-gag by stealth’
This is the best summary I could come up with:
New biosecurity laws being debated in Victorian parliament could see fines double for animal activists found trespassing on farms, in a move described as “ag-gag by stealth” by critics.
The new laws also include the introduction of offences for “damaging, defacing or removing” biosecurity signage displayed by farmers, that ensure the trespass fines apply to their properties.
Danyel Cucinotta, vice-president of the Victoria’s Farmers Federation, welcomed the new fines and said the current penalties had failed to deter animal activists.
She described the new bill as a “form of ag-gag by stealth” and noted the agriculture minister, Ros Spence, did not make mention of animal activists when she read into parliament last month.
“Reading the bill, it’s clear it’s going to affect any activists who are caught investigating cruelty or rescuing animals from dire situations, factory farms and slaughterhouses.”
Earlier this year, Delforce hid for nine hours inside a carbon dioxide gas chamber at an abattoir in Melbourne’s west to document the gassing of pigs.
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