ANIMAL activists have occupied abattoirs, protested at other processing plants across Australia and been arrested at a Melbourne demonstration as part of a series of planned actions today.

The widely-telegraphed campaign of disruption and trespass has been undertaken by groups of anti-meat activists in several locations in Victoria, New South Wales Queensland and Tasmania.

The protests generated mainstream media attention, but also condemnation from political and industry leaders and waves of opposing comments on social media.

Protestors this morning blocked a major intersection in Melbourne causing peak hour traffic chaos by parking vehicles across roads to prevent transport access to meat processing plants.

At each protest activists held banners promoting the vegan film Dominion, which was released exactly 12 months ago to the day by the anti-farming activist who recently posted thousands of farm addresses online in a widely criticised “attack map” for vegan vigilantes on his Aussie Farms website.

Australian Meat Industry Council chief executive officer Patrick Hutchinson called for a strong and rapid response after activists illegally entered several member operations this morning, putting themselves, hundreds of workers and thousands of animals at risk.

AMIC said at least five AMIC member businesses were targeted in the invasions, led by vegan activists.

“What this amounts to is workers in regional and rural Australia being impacted by people who are not part of their communities.

“They come in, they cause trouble, they create images that are not representative of the work our members do, they damage a business’s ability to operate, and then they’re gone,” Mr Hutchinson said.

Victoria Police arrest 38 at Melbourne protest

Victoria Police said they arrested 38 people, including two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old, following the protest in Melbourne’s central; business district this morning. The protesters have been charged to appear in court.

It is understood three vehicles were used to block the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets, with a number of people chaining themselves to vehicles, Victoria Police said. The protesters were arrested in relation to obstructing a roadway, resisting or obstructing police, and are assisting police with their enquiries. Three vehicles were towed and the scene has now cleared.

Superintendent David Clayton said the lack of prior engagement with police from the protesters was disappointing and also caused considerable disruptions to thousands of people attempting to navigate through the CBD during peak hour.

“There will be people who couldn’t access services during this time,” Supt Clayton said.

“The safety and security of the community is Victoria Police’s number one priority.

“Police were not engaged with prior to the protest that took place in Melbourne CBD this morning,” he said.

“Police are able to facilitate planned protests when we are engaged with which doesn’t put the community at risk.

“This lack of engagement puts the entire community at risk with road closures and delays to transport services,” he said.

“We respect the right for people to protest peacefully but we will not tolerate anti-social behaviour that disrupts the broader community.”

Police have monitored a number of other protests at locations state-wide, including Bacchus Marsh, Laverton North, Pakenham and Corio. Officers are also monitoring a protest at the aquarium, where protesters have blocked the main entrance.

Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said it was fortunate the protests, while causing disruption to the public and businesses, appear to have been peaceful.

“For those who choose to eat products from animals, they can be assured that Australian farmers care for their animals and strive to achieve world’s best practice when it comes to many standards of production including animal health and welfare.

“The protesters must show respect for the choices of others – people who enjoy chocolate for a treat, consume milk after exercise to assist with muscle recovery, through to those who start their day with scrambled eggs on toast and celebrate family events with a roast dinner or barbeque,” he said.

“While farmers and city-based consumers may at times live very different lives, we actually have many things in common.

“We value family and safety, we care for our animals be they pets or farm animals, and we pride ourselves in growing and consuming great food,” he said.

Nine activists arrested at Southern Meats, Goulburn

Sheep Central believes nine people were arrested at Goulburn in NSW, after chaining themselves to a conveyor at the Southern Meats plant and refusing to move.

No arrests in Queensland despite increased powers

No arrests have been made against trespassing activists at the Carey Bros plant at Yangan in Queensland, where the State Government yesterday said it was increasing powers to stop animal rights protesters invading farms for protests. Click here to read the government statement.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the protesters as ‘green-collared criminals’ who were targeting drought and flood affected farmers who were going through some of the hardest conditions in more than a century and should face the “full force of the law”.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud said if the aim of activists was to convert Australians to veganism today, they had done “huge damage to their cause”.

“Fair minded Australians find this behaviour extreme,” he said.

Click here to read Mr Littleproud’s statement.

Activist activity today has included:

– An estimated 100 activists blocked one of Melbourne’s busiest traffic and tram intersections at Flinders Street and Swanston Street during peak hour this morning

– In the early hours of this morning an estimated 20 people chained themselves to equipment at Carey Brothers abattoir at Yangan near Warwick. Police said negotiations between the protestors and the abattoir led to three lambs being handed over to the activists who then left.

– Dairy farmers near Warwick told ABC they were confronted by activists outside their property about 6:30am after they had Carey Brothers abattoir. Farmer Jason Christensen said five or six cars pulled up near a herd of heifers and had scared the animals.

“Dad had the main confrontation with them — swearing at dad, trying to get at him — they were trying to tell him he should be growing vegetables.” See the full ABC story here.

– A small group of protested parked a Pantech truck across a road near Pakenham, blocking access to the G &K O’Connor abattoir, and chained themselves to the vehicle.

– Another group broke into and attached themselves machinery with chains at the Goulburn abattoir, where nine were arrested after being cut free and refusing to leave.

– Other locations targeted included the MC Herd abattoir in Geelong, Westside Meats at Bacchus Marsh, Australian Food Group plant at Laverton.

– Activists leaving the Flinders Street protest in Melbourne reportedly chained themselves to the doors of the Sea Life Aquarium, blocking access to the facility on the first day of school holidays.

– In Tasmania, 20 activists occupied the foyer of ministerial offices at Salamanca Place, specifically targeting the office of the Minister for Primary Industries.

On Sunday the owners of the Gippy Goat cafe in West Gippsland, from where goats were ‘rescued’ by activists earlier this year, earning those responsible a $1 fine, announced on Facebook they had decided to close, saying their staff and customers have been subjected “to nearly 4 months of constant harassment, vile statements and threats from the abusive vegan activists.”

Toowoomba based lawyer Dan Creevey from Creevey Russell Lawyers was among the chorus of people calling for stronger penalties to deter deliberate law breaking by activists.

“Issuing of fines is inadequate and is a weak deterrent,” he said.

“Court proceedings need to follow, and courts should consider recording convictions against those breaking the law.

“We live in a democratic society. If activists want to protest, they have a right to do so, but there are right ways and wrong ways to do things, and trespassing on land, and impacting businesses, is not the right way.”