Trespassers on farms that have biosecurity plans will be hit with $1000 on-the-spot fines, with the potential for fines of up to $220,000 under new trespass laws in NSW.
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Corporations could also face fines of $440,000 for inciting trespass on farms such as those conducted earlier this year.
NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall announced a major shakeup of the NSW Biosecurity Act.
A new offence has been created that will see illegal trespassers on farms, creating biosecurity risks, handed an immediate on-the-spot fine of $1000 and further fines of up to $220,000 per person and $440,000 for corporations.
We are also looking at ways we can further deter this kind of behaviour, including introducing legislation and potential jail time for offenders.
- Deputy Premier John Barilaro.
Farmers must have a biosecurity plan and appropriate signage to instigate the legal action against alleged offenders.
Australian Community Media's The Land newspaper started the 'Protect our Farms' campaign earlier this year after details of farms were put on a map of Australia where activists claimed animals were being mistreated.
The activists obtained videos and photos of farm areas without permission. A group known as Aussie Farms published the farm details online.
It led to a major outcry at NSW and Federal levels over alleged breaches by animal liberationists and vegan activists who had taken video and photos on properties without permission and targeted farmers.
There was also a sit in at an abattoir in Goulburn during the vegan protest that also led to a partial CBD closure of inner Melbourne.
Federal trespass laws are also being considered to control, trespassers but this is expected to have rough ride through the Senate with the Greens claiming the laws could infringe on human rights.
But the NSW Government has bitten the bullet first on the new trespass laws.
"Vigilantes who are entering our farmers' property illegally are nothing short of domestic terrorists - our farmers have had a gutful. They don't deserve, nor have time, to be dealing with illegal trespass and vile harassment from a bunch of virtue-signalling thugs," Deputy Premier John Barilaro said in Corowa today.
"The NSW Liberals & Nationals in Government are putting in place the harshest penalties in the country and sending a strong warning to those who think it's okay to illegally invade farms and harass our hard-working farmers.
"But we aren't stopping there. We are also looking at ways we can further deter this kind of behaviour, including introducing legislation and potential jail time for offenders."
Vigilantes who are entering our farmers' property illegally are nothing short of domestic terrorists.
- Deputy Premier John Barilaro
Mr Marshall said the government was determined to clamp down on illegal farm invasions and was working on additional changes with further penalties, including jail time, for those committing criminal acts associated with farm trespass.
"Today we are putting these vigilantes and thugs on notice - your time threatening our primary producers by illegally trespassing and creating biosecurity risks is done," Mr Marshall said.
"The agricultural industry and community have had a gutful of this vile behaviour. These thugs are not only harassing and traumatising hard-working farmers and their families, they're also posing serious biosecurity risks by potentially bringing contaminants and diseases onto properties that could wipe out an entire farming operation.
"Today's announcement complements the work the Commonwealth Government is doing in targeting the online incitement of farm trespass."
Earlier this year, Julie and Michael Moore, fourth generation dairy farmers who milk 140 cows, were among hundreds of farmers who have been listed on the aussiefarms.org.au interactive map.
The map details the location of farming operations from pigs to eggs, fish, dairy and beef to racecourses, abattoirs, greyhound tracks and even zoos.
"This is so scary, I know pigs and abattoirs have been targeted before but now any farms it appears is going to be listed," Mrs Moore told The Land's Sam Townsend earlier this year.
"This is a total breach of our biosecurity and an invasion of our privacy."
The Land published a video on the Moore's farms showing how activists had trespassed past clear biosecurity warnings on their Dorrigo farm and showed there was no justification for any of the claims made against them about alleged treatment of their animals.
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