News

New laws to cut animal activist ambushes – WAFarmers

Sheep Central, February 12, 2015
Senator Chris Back

Senator Chris Back

New legislation to encourage early reporting of animal cruelty would lessen the possibility of livestock producers being ambushed by animal activists, WAFarmers president Dale Park said yesterday.

Senator Chris Back’s Criminal Code Amendment (Animal Protection) Bill 2015 had its first reading yesterday in the Australian Parliament.

The WA senator and veterinarian has said he introduced the animal protection bill to reduce malicious cruelty to animals and protect lawfully operating animal enterprises.

Mr Park said it was a step forward for animal welfare because it ensures that perpetrators of animal cruelty will be reported promptly, empowering investigators to act more quickly.

WAFarmers said the Bill would require a person who obtained visual images of what they believe to be malicious cruelty to animals to report it to a responsible authority without delay. Authorities are then empowered to investigate, to act swiftly ensuring further cruelty is averted and to prosecute the perpetrators if proven.

It would also address illegal interference in the conduct of lawful animal enterprises and protect workers associated with such an enterprise from intimidation, threats or attacks as well as prohibiting trespassing onto, or vandalism of, such enterprises, WAFarmers said.

“The amendment lessens the possibility of stock owners being ambushed by animal activists,” Mr Park said.

Senator Back said the Bill is an amendment to the Criminal Code, and has two parts, the first addressing the reporting of malicious cruelty to animals and the second, dealing with illegal interference in the conduct of lawful animal enterprises.

The first division of the Bill stipulates that if a person takes visual images of what they believe to be malicious cruelty to animals, they must report this to the responsible authority without delay.

Activists delays in disclosure prevent investigation

Senator Back’s decision to introduce this Bill follows recent examples of activist groups who present visual images taken sometimes up to twelve months prior to disclosure, effectively preventing responsible authorities from accurately investigating animal cruelty allegations in a timely manner.

“As a veterinarian, I am as appalled as anyone else in the community when animals are subject to malicious cruelty.

“This Bill will give people the incentive to report the cruelty without delay in order for the authorities to investigate and end the cruelty immediately,” Senator Back said.

The Bill does not censor or restrict the media, media coverage or any person in any way.

Bill prohibits intimidation and trespass

The second division of the Bill is directed at anyone who intimidates, threatens or attacks a person or people associated with operating a lawful animal enterprise.  It also prohibits trespassing onto or vandalism of such enterprises.

Such actions are criminal in nature, invade the privacy of affected persons and can place animals at risk from a welfare, biosecurity, health and safety point of view, Senator Back said in a statement.

Senator Back said the motives of many animal activists are clear by their own published statements.

“They want to see the end of Australia’s livestock industries with many opposing any form of animal production and wanting to drastically reduce meat consumption.

“In so doing, they are directly attacking Australia’s international reputation, export trade and the profitability of agricultural and rural communities generally.”

The Bill and explanatory memorandum can be found here:

http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query%3DId%3A%22legislation%2Fbillhome%2Fs994%22;rec=0

Sources: Senator Chris Back, WAFarmers.

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Comments

  1. Katrina Love, February 17, 2015

    Had Senator Back’s proposed legislation already been in place, it would have severely hampered, if not made impossible (legally) the recent investigations carried out in NSW, VIC and QLD by Animals Australia and Animal Liberation Queensland, which saw staff, participants and senior trainers stood down in these three states over the ILLEGAL live baiting/blooding of greyhounds using piglets, rabbits and native possums.

    Sometimes, investigations which culminate in charges laid and closures of facilities for illegal treatment and abuse of animals, takes time and patience.

    Back to the drawing board, Senator and come back when you have a Private Member’s Bill legislating against the abuse, not the exposure of it, by whatever means necessary – the ends justify the means.

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