AGRIBUSINESS

Activists slammed for intimidation tactics

NATIONAL Farmers Federation is calling on the government to exclude radical animal rights activists from policy making processes following a spate of illegal and intimidating encounters with agricultural participants.

Staff Writer
 NFF calls out animal rights activists for intimidating APL staff. Picture Mark Saunders.

NFF calls out animal rights activists for intimidating APL staff. Picture Mark Saunders.

Australian Pork Limited CEO, Margo Andrae, detailed alarming examples of recent protest activity at Senate estimates hearing last week, sparking support from NFF.
Andrae said protesters have disguised themselves as tradesmen to gain access to APL's office, set up cameras and frightened staff, which she added were tactics farmers had been subjected to for decades.
NFF Vice President, David Jochinke, said this behaviour was completely unacceptable and needs to be called out.
"Everyone should have the right to feel safe in their workplace," Mr Jochinke said.
"These people are doing their jobs and have done nothing wrong. They don't deserve that sort of harassment.
"Having a different view to someone doesn't give you the right to flout the law or intimidate people."
Mr Jochinke is calling on the Federal Government to condemn the people behind this intimidation campaign publicly and proactively and not to engage with them.
"The perpetrators of this campaign can't just go around frightening people and breaking the law completely unchecked," he said.
"They are not genuine voices in the animal welfare discussion and simply seek to destroy the livelihoods of Australian farming families.
"We'd like to see a clear condemnation by the government, and a public statement that it won't engage with groups which employ these sorts of tactics.
"People who ignore the rights of others by harassing them at their place of work, shouldn't have a right to be heard by policymakers.
"This government should make that clear to help stem the problem."

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