A critical food producer may be left to fend for itself if the Andrews Government refuses to guarantee protections against extreme animal activists this Mother’s Day.
In Parliament, Deputy Leader of The ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s and Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Emma Kealy, asked the Minister for Police to guarantee safe access for delivery trucks and protections against biosecurity threats at Benalla Abattoir.
The Farm Transparency Project – formerly known as Aussie Farms – will be holding a second protest at the Benalla business, this time disrupting animal arrivals by approaching delivery trucks and interfering with livestock.
Ms Kealy said the government must to protect Victoria’s biosecurity and keep stock on our supermarket shelves.
“If the Andrews Government is happy for animal activists to interfere with livestock, they cannot shirk responsibility if disease hits the food supply chain and pushes up pork prices in supermarkets.”
“Each day our food producers are disrupted adds costs and removes stock from supermarket shelves, which Victorians cannot afford in this ongoing cost of living crisis.”
“This is a direct threat to affordable food for everyday Victorians by extreme animal activists, and the government cannot look the other way.”
Ms Kealy also has concerns about the Andrews Government’s weak farm trespass laws for Victoria’s critical food producers.
“The Farm Transparency Project gets fine after fine, but keep coming back for more because the penalties simply aren’t enough of a deterrent.”
“Their CEO is so unfazed by his recent on-the-spot fine in Benalla that he’s immediately returning to the scene of his crime to interfere with livestock.”
“Victoria’s maximum farm trespass fines are half the maximum in New South Wales, and Labor has refused to work with the Liberals and ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾s to strengthen our laws and make them fit-for-purpose.”
“How can people put Victorian pork on their fork if the Andrews Government continues to allow protestors to dangerously disrupt the industry?”
