❓ Mr Rundle questions the Premier on the government's progress in increasing penalties for animal rights activists, citing ongoing illegal activities. The Premier acknowledges the issue, explains the delay due to balancing lawful protest rights and animal welfare standards, and promises draft legislation soon.
AnsweredQoN 73Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
ANIMAL ACTIVISM
73. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
Under the government's watch, criminal activists continue
to thumb their nose at the law by trespassing at major sporting events and
declaring an intent to reoffend. On 19 February last year, the National Party
first asked what the government's plan was to deter these criminal
activists. One year on to the day, I ask: when will the government finally take
action to increase penalties for criminal activists?
73. Mr P.J. RUNDLE to the Premier:
Under the government's watch, criminal activists continue
to thumb their nose at the law by trespassing at major sporting events and
declaring an intent to reoffend. On 19 February last year, the National Party
first asked what the government's plan was to deter these criminal
activists. One year on to the day, I ask: when will the government finally take
action to increase penalties for criminal activists?
AnswerView source ↗
It is a good question. Obviously, the woman running onto the
football field at the game on the weekend was not acceptable conduct. It
disrupted an important game of football and we do not agree with that conduct.
In relation to the matters that went before the courts, stealing property from
farms is also not acceptable conduct. The people involved have been convicted
and received penalties from the courts. We are now in the final stage, as I understand
it, of drafting legislation that we will release soon for public comment prior
to bringing it into Parliament.
Mr P.J. Rundle : We've been getting that for a year.
Mr M. McGOWAN : If I can just answer the member's
question.
The SPEAKER : Member for Roe, listen to the answer. You
might learn something.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The complexity around these things is
that we obviously do not want to capture protest activities that might be
lawful and therefore criminalise people who are going about lawful ways of
protesting. We live in a democracy and we do
not want to capture those sorts of things. We also want to ensure the highest
standards of animal welfare in intensive agriculture. Whether it is
piggeries, knackeries or abattoirs, we want to make sure an inspection regime
is in place for those activities to ensure high standards of animal welfare.
Getting all those things right has taken some time. We are confident that we
will release draft laws to the public for consideration very shortly.
football field at the game on the weekend was not acceptable conduct. It
disrupted an important game of football and we do not agree with that conduct.
In relation to the matters that went before the courts, stealing property from
farms is also not acceptable conduct. The people involved have been convicted
and received penalties from the courts. We are now in the final stage, as I understand
it, of drafting legislation that we will release soon for public comment prior
to bringing it into Parliament.
Mr P.J. Rundle : We've been getting that for a year.
Mr M. McGOWAN : If I can just answer the member's
question.
The SPEAKER : Member for Roe, listen to the answer. You
might learn something.
Mr M. McGOWAN : The complexity around these things is
that we obviously do not want to capture protest activities that might be
lawful and therefore criminalise people who are going about lawful ways of
protesting. We live in a democracy and we do
not want to capture those sorts of things. We also want to ensure the highest
standards of animal welfare in intensive agriculture. Whether it is
piggeries, knackeries or abattoirs, we want to make sure an inspection regime
is in place for those activities to ensure high standards of animal welfare.
Getting all those things right has taken some time. We are confident that we
will release draft laws to the public for consideration very shortly.
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