Evidence that existing trespass and privacy laws are failing farmers has continued to mount in recent days.
Activists have virtually walked free from court in cases of trespass in Victoria and Western Australia and in Queensland 100 trespassers entered a farm last weekend near Millmerran.
The farm was identified using the Aussie Farms map, again demonstrating the tactics of Aussie Farms to encourage further farm invasions.
These soft penalties send the wrong message to the radical and well-resourced activist organisations coordinating these intrusions.
It must inspire our state and federal governments to adopt immediate reforms that create a robust and fit-for-purpose legislative framework to protect farmers from increasingly belligerent activists' activities.
Now the state election results are in, NSW Farmers has written to re-elected Premier Gladys Berejiklian this week seeking a commitment that improving legal protections for landholders will be the first order of business for the next parliament.
The existing legislative framework in NSW is insufficient to properly deal with farm trespass and illegal surveillance.
There are currently a range of offences for farm trespass, but they are not securing prosecutions for those that commit these crimes.
Reform must also recognise the new ways these unauthorised actions are occurring. Activists have taken advantage of new drone technology to advance their cause, with little regard to the rights of farmers to undertake lawful business activities.
NSW Farmers is also backing the National Farmers Federation (NFF) in calling on actions from the federal government to immediately address trespass and privacy concerns.
We are also united in advocating for the removal of charitable status of organisations such as Aussie Farms.
I would encourage all farmers to sign the NFF petition at www.farmers.org.au
- James Jackson is the NSW Farmers president
