Australian pork industry calls for tougher penalties against animal activists illegally filming on farms

Updated

The Australian pork industry is calling for tougher penalties against animal activists who illegally film on farms.

Australian Pork Limited (APL) chief executive Andrew Spencer says an increase in activity over the past 18 months has seen animal rights activists target properties in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

"These activists are illegally entering farms, they're illegally taking footage, they're illegally leaving, in some cases, surveillance devices to spy on people," he told ABC's Landline program.

"Those farm raids have been extremely distressing for the farmers involved, as you could imagine. It's like having your house burgled."

The pork industry says it wants better legal protection for farmers who are being "viciously" defamed by material posted on the internet by animal rights groups.

Mr Spencer argues the aim of these campaigns is not to improve animal handling practices, but to shut down the entire pork industry.

"In some cases we've seen that they actually set up negative shots, they move dead piglets around for example," he said.

Current laws do not deter activists: APL

APL is calling for a review of trespass, defamation and filming laws, relating to surveillance devices.

"[Current laws] absolutely do not provide a deterrent to these radical anti-animal farming groups," Mr Spencer said.

"[Animal rights activists] are prepared to take the risk on the law because they know that it is very weak in being able to hand out penalties."

APL would like to see legislation change to make it easier to prosecute trespasses, as well as to increase penalties.

Sorry, this video has expired Video: Andrew Spencer from Australian Pork Limited talks to Landline (Landline)

However, the industry acknowledges that pursuing changes to current laws could generate negative publicity.

"There is absolutely that risk and, as an industry, we have to be as transparent as we possibly can be," Mr Spencer said.

"We will never have done enough, we need to continue to work to make sure that people understand what we are doing, understand our motivations, and understand that we are part of the food industry.

"There are people getting on to pig farms to have a look but you have to remember the environment that our pig farmers are operating in at the moment. They are extremely worried about the motivations of some people."

Several states in the US have introduced strict controls on animal rights activities, in what are sometimes called Ag-Gag laws.

Animal Liberation's Mark Pearson told the ABC's Lateline program that any attempt to introduce such laws in Australia was "doomed to fail".

"These are measures of an industry that is desperate and is being brought to its knees," he said.

For more visit the Landline website

Topics: rural, agribusiness, livestock-welfare, laws, australia

First posted