Vegan activists who invade farms and slaughterhouses to stage political protests must face tougher criminal penalties, the federal Attorney-General has told his state counterparts.
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Christian Porter called on the Privacy Commissioner to launch an investigation into Monday's protests as he urged the nation's attorneys-general to beef up their state laws and enforcement to deter more mass-scale demonstrations at individual meat processors and farms.
Activists brought rush-hour traffic to a halt in Melbourne's CBD on Monday morning, and invaded several abattoirs in Victoria, NSW and Queensland. Thirty-nine people, including two teenagers, were arrested in Melbourne. Charges are also expected to be laid against one person who blocked the Melbourne Aquarium and a further 20 people who targeted processors in Laverton and Pakenham in Victoria.
NSW police arrested nine people, including several they had to physically carry away from an abattoir in Goulburn, but in Queensland, activists escaped arrest after bargaining with the owners of the Carey Bros abattoir in Yangan for three sheep in exchange for their departure, on the proviso the owners would not lodge a formal complaint with police, who attended the protest.
Mr Porter said the increase in demonstrations, which comes after the publication online by Aussie Farms of a map detailing Australian farms and abattoirs, showed the laws needed to change to respond to the activists' actions.
"I suggest all jurisdictions consider increasing penalties for criminal trespass, particularly as this offence relates to trespass on farmland and that further consideration be given to a nationally consistent approach to instituting an aggravated form of trespass and unlawful entry where it is conducted recklessly with the outcome of causing commercial damage to a relevant agricultural enterprise," he said.
Separately, the Attorney-General called on the Privacy Commissioner to launch an investigation into complaints made against Aussie Farms.
"There are strong grounds to conclude that Aussie Farms Inc is engaging in a systematic effort in collecting, using and disclosing personal information to the detriment of farmers and agricultural producers," Mr Porter said.
Last week the government used its powers to revoke an exemption and classify Aussie Farms as an organisation, subjecting the group to the Privacy Act under which organisations who breach the law governing the use of personal information can be fined up to $2.1 million, while individuals can face fines of up to $420,000.
