Amendments to double the maximum fine for illegal farm invasion have been blocked in Victorian Parliament by Labor, Greens and Independent MPs. The Liberals and Nationals proposed two amendments to the Livestock Management Amendment (Animal Activism) Bill 2021 to double the maximum fine for individuals in line with New South Wales’ hefty penalty scheme –…
Victorian farmers waited two long years for tough new on-the-spot fines to stop farm invasions that threaten their safety and farm biosecurity. But last month, the Labor Party teamed up with the Greens to block amendments that would have doubled the maximum fine for illegal entry on Victorian farms. Stopping these amendments is a move…
Farmers won’t be better protected against illegal and traumatic farm trespass crime unless amendments to on-the-spot fine laws are passed in the Victorian Parliament. Today, Leader of The Nationals Peter Walsh will introduce amendments to the Livestock Management Amendment (Animal Activism) Bill 2021 to fix problems in the draft legislation that will see farmer’s river…
Farm crime continues to rise nearly two years since the Labor Government promised to crackdown on livestock and equipment theft from Victorian farms. New data from the Crime Statistics Agency (CSA) has confirmed a 9 per cent increase in livestock stolen in the past 12 months. And despite the ‘crackdown’ most crimes still go unsolved.…
GRIZZLY – it’s a word that conjures up visions of the hunter/killer – Nature’s ultimate predator; a sight and sound which smacks of the primordial beast. But The Nationals member for Murray Plains, Peter Walsh, said in this instance it is the brand name for a regional Victorian success story. Mr Walsh said the Swan…
Thursday 13 August 2020 Victorian farmers and harvest contractors fear strict border closures will cripple the nation’s harvest this year, unless special agriculture permits are offered to allow interstate travel. Strict border closures along Victoria’s borders with New South Wales and South Australia are fuelling fears of cost increases and food shortages if supply…
Food supply chain businesses will be relieved the State Government has finally come out to confirm our agriculture sector is an essential service. Farmers, food processors and businesses critical to making sure our supermarket shelves remain fully stocked have been desperate for clarification since Stage 1 restrictions to combat COVID-19 were announced more than a…
Background The final report in the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture has been released. The Liberal Nationals moved to establish the inquiry after calls from farmers and farm communities for better protections against a worsening militant campaign of trespass and livestock theft. But instead of backing our farmers, Labor…
Freight subsidies announced today will help to relieve the financial pressure on farmers in the north east and East Gippsland as they work to recover from bushfire and years of drought. For months, farmers have been calling for assistance to cover the high cost of bringing in fodder or transporting livestock to agistment in regions…
Thousands of kilometres of internal and external fencing, including boundary fencing bordering with state forests and national parks, has been damaged in the bushfires in East Gippsland and north-east Victoria and will need to be replaced. While the threat of bushfire still remains for some communities, many are now looking to clean-up and rebuild homes,…