Chay at Qld LACSC public hearing

New ag-gag laws target animal rights activists

Over recent months governments have proposed a range of laws to target activists who seek to expose animal cruelty and educate the public. These laws have been proposed by the federal government as well as at the state level by several state governments. 

Please note that information on this page is intended for information purposes only and is the opinion of ALQ. It is not intended as legal advice. We recommend doing your own research and to obtain your own independent legal advice for specific matters. 

 

Summary Offences and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (“Dangerous Devices Bill”) (Queensland)

The Dangerous Devices Bill was introduced in September 2019 and passed into law in October 2019 (following a shorter than usual timeframe which we regard as rushed). ALQ opposed this Bill and we made our concerns clear in our submission and in statements to the parliamentary committee hearing. 

The Bill gives police additional powers to target peaceful protestors. It bans "attachment devices" and "dangerous attachment devices" including poles and tripods, or devices such as pipes with a lock that connect to a protestor's arm and make it difficult to remove the protestor. It imposes penalty of up to 2 years prison if someone uses "a dangerous attachment device to unreasonably interfere with the ordinary operation of transport infrastructure" or 1 year in prison if someone uses "a dangerous attachment device" and "stop a person from entering or leaving a place of business" or "halt the ordinary operations of a plant...". 

 

Agriculture and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019 (Queensland)

On 22 August 2019, Hon Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, introduced the Agriculture and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2019.

The parliamentary SDNRAIDC committee recommended on 8th October that this Bill be passed, but did note that the government should increase transparency around animal cruelty offences committed, and work with the Federal government on better animal welfare policy - these important recommendations were based on the points raised by Animal Liberation Qld and other animal protection groups. Read more here.

ALQ made a submission regarding the proposed Bill and we spoke at the public hearing on 13 September 2019. You can watch the public hearing here (our contribution starts around the 45:00 mark). 

ALQ Executive Director Chay Neal told the hearing: “These proposed laws seek to stifle animal rights activists that seek to show the public the truth. These laws do absolutely nothing to address the widespread animal cruelty to farmed animals.”

This Bill has was passed with amendments, on 6 February 2020 and has come into effect from 1 March 2020. (See the Bill here)

What do these amendments do that activists and investigators should be aware of?  These new laws: 

  • increase scope and penalties of up to 1 year in jail for "unlawfully entering or remaining on designated land" [designated land includes land used for (a)an agricultural activity; or (b)an animal husbandry activity (including breeding, dairy, feedlot, piggery, salyward, aquaculture, poultry farming, animal testing); or (c)a holding facility (including a pound, live export holding, showground, stock route, abattoir; or(d)a food production facility, including, for example, a facility that produces food for animal consumption; or (e)the exhibition of animals (including at a private event).],
  • fines of over $60,000 for failure to comply with biosecurity obligations under a biosecurity management plan (or even higher fines for aggravated offences), 
  • increase scope of unlawful assembly to include designated places and additional offences.

 

Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 (Federal)

The Australian government recently introduced legislation which seeks to target anyone deemed to be "inciting trespass" through the use of a "carriage service". The concern is that these laws are designed to criminalise the publication of animal cruelty that we believe the public has a right to know. The Bill also seeks to target the Aussie Farms website and "the map". 

You can read our submission here

You can find out more and track the status of this Bill on the Federal Government website here

This Bill has now passed the House and the Senate (with support of both Labor and LNP) and came into effect from 20 September 2019.

You can read more as well as Aussie Farms' submission on this Bill here.

You can read Action Ready's explainer on these laws here.

 

Criminal Code (Trespass Offences) Amendment Bill 2019 (Queensland)

On 1 May 2019, Mr Dale Last MP (LNP), Member for Burdekin, introduced a private members bill titled Criminal Code (Trespass Offences) Amendment Bill 2019. 

ALQ made a submission on this Bill which you can read here. Our submission makes the case as to why these laws are over the top and not proportionate to existing laws for other offences. It is also outlines the importance of investigators and whistleblowers for exposing animal cruelty in the public interest. The majority of Australians are concerned about animal welfare and want reform. 

A short video from the hearing is below. Full video from the hearing is available on the Parliament TV web site (part 1 & part 2)

You can see the full details, read submissions and more on the Queensland government LACS Committee website here.

The LACS Committee voted against the passing of this Bill on 1st November 2019, so this bill can be considered defeated. See media coverage here and the committee report here

 

Bills and inquiries in other states

 

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