❓ Ms. Davies questions the Premier about conflicting messages regarding trespass laws and penalties for animal activists, particularly concerning the agricultural sector. The Premier denies being at odds with the Minister for Agriculture and Food and outlines steps being taken to review and potentially increase penalties for trespass.
AnsweredQoN 114Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ANIMAL ACTIVISM
114. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
recent comments about the trespass laws and penalties for animal activists
clearly needing to be reviewed, which directly contradicts his Minister for
Agriculture and Food's comments.
(1) Is the Premier at odds with the
minister over trespass laws and the changes that need to be made?
(2) Does the
Premier accept that trespass by animal activists is a major issue in regional
areas and agree that mixed messages from his government at this time are
unhelpful for the agricultural sector?
114. Ms M.J. DAVIES to the Premier:
I refer to the Premier's
recent comments about the trespass laws and penalties for animal activists
clearly needing to be reviewed, which directly contradicts his Minister for
Agriculture and Food's comments.
(1) Is the Premier at odds with the
minister over trespass laws and the changes that need to be made?
(2) Does the
Premier accept that trespass by animal activists is a major issue in regional
areas and agree that mixed messages from his government at this time are
unhelpful for the agricultural sector?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) No.
I do not agree with the Leader of the National Party that the Minister for
Agriculture and Food and I are at odds. Obviously, this is a serious issue, and
it has been occurring in a range of locations. It is disruptive, in particular,
for some farmers and some farming activities. I have indicated that I do not
support this sort of activity and that I do not support activists who race
through restaurants disrupting people who might be eating their dinner. It is
obviously unacceptable conduct. I met with the Commissioner of Police to
discuss this and other issues. We discussed the penalties for trespass—from
memory, the maximum penalty for trespass is 12 months' imprisonment
and/or a $12 000 fine—and we discussed that that has not been reviewed
for a while. I then discussed that with the Minister for Police and said it is
obviously something that we need to review with a view to lifting it so there
is a maximum penalty, which sends a message to the courts if people are
prosecuted.
The police commissioner also
mentioned the circumstance of aggravation, whereby people stream live on
Facebook or something like that whilst in someone's restaurant or on
someone's property, and how that might be a circumstance of
aggravation. I agree with him on that. That is what the government is working
on. As the Leader of the National Party knows, during the eight and a half
years of the last government, the penalties for trespass were not increased.
However, we are now examining this issue with a view to lifting them.
I do not agree with the Leader of the National Party that the Minister for
Agriculture and Food and I are at odds. Obviously, this is a serious issue, and
it has been occurring in a range of locations. It is disruptive, in particular,
for some farmers and some farming activities. I have indicated that I do not
support this sort of activity and that I do not support activists who race
through restaurants disrupting people who might be eating their dinner. It is
obviously unacceptable conduct. I met with the Commissioner of Police to
discuss this and other issues. We discussed the penalties for trespass—from
memory, the maximum penalty for trespass is 12 months' imprisonment
and/or a $12 000 fine—and we discussed that that has not been reviewed
for a while. I then discussed that with the Minister for Police and said it is
obviously something that we need to review with a view to lifting it so there
is a maximum penalty, which sends a message to the courts if people are
prosecuted.
The police commissioner also
mentioned the circumstance of aggravation, whereby people stream live on
Facebook or something like that whilst in someone's restaurant or on
someone's property, and how that might be a circumstance of
aggravation. I agree with him on that. That is what the government is working
on. As the Leader of the National Party knows, during the eight and a half
years of the last government, the penalties for trespass were not increased.
However, we are now examining this issue with a view to lifting them.
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