LNP Shadow Minister for Agriculture Tony Perrett today labelled the Palaszczuk Labor Government’s new ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ fines for animal extremists as ineffective and out of touch.
A report in the Courier Mail today* revealed Labor’s ‘heavy on-the-spot fines’ for animal activists who terrorise farmers would only be $500 to $600.
“These ‘slap-on-the-wrist’ fines fail the pub test and do nothing to respond to the community outrage against these extremists terrorising our hard-working family farmers,” Mr Perrett said.
“These proposed fines are laughable and will do nothing to deter these militant minorities.
“To make things worse, Labor’s Mark Furner has failed to give details or a definitive timeline on when reforms will come into force.
“While the Minister is making it up as he goes along, animal extremists are terrorising law-abiding family businesses who put food on our table and create local jobs in our regions.
“These extremists have shown time and time again they are more than happy to pay these pathetic fines as there’s no threat of any real punishment.”
Mr Perrett said harsher penalties were urgently needed to put an end to the disgraceful terrorisation of Queensland farmers.
“If these animal extremists want to do the crime, they should be ready to do the time,” Mr Perrett said.
“It’s time to make an example of these outlaws and show Queensland is serious about protecting our farmers and maintaining strict biosecurity controls.
“In New South Wales and Victoria, we saw dozens of arrests in response to recent actions, but in Queensland all we’ve seen is three sacrificial lambs handed over to extremists**.
“It’s time to throw these un-Australian extremists behind bars.
“Only the LNP will do what it takes to protect our farmers and the entire food supply-chain in Queensland.”
* Courier Mail article (10 April 2019) p2 ‘Heavy fines rushed in to combat animal activists’ by Domanii Cameron (attached)
** Queensland Country Life online article ‘Carey Brothers abattoir targeted by 120 animal rights protesters’ by Helen Walker: https://www.queenslandcountrylife.com.au/story/6006042/protesters-target-carey-brothers-abattoir/
