New penalties for farm invaders under the Biosecurity Act 2015 has been labelled as pathetic by Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MLC Mark Banasiak.
“You will see in typical fashion from this government, more bureaucracy shoved down farmer’s throats.
“Unless property has a Biosecurity Management Plan, and you can prove someone hasn’t followed it, farm invaders won’t be subject to these fines,” said Mr Banasiak.
Mr Bansiak’s comments come after a press release from the Government, on behalf of Deputy Premier John Barilaro and Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall, announced a “major shake-up” of the Biosecurity Act 2015.
“That is a joke, and frankly it’s offensive to farmers.
“The onus, once again, falls on the farmer. It is their obligation to meet the Biosecurity Management Plan. If they miss a sign or misinterpret a requirement they cannot prosecute farm invaders.
“Not only that, persons invading a property don’t need to confirm that they have read and understood their obligations under the plan. Which means in court they can play dumb and get away with it,” said Mr Banasiak.
The Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party have repeatedly called for tougher sentencing under the Crimes Act.
“The Crimes Act needs to be amended to make farm invasion a criminal offence. Summary offences, heard by a local court, is just not good enough.
“The Deputy Premier went on record saying these invaders are “domestic terrorists”, so why are we giving them loop holes in legislation that they can slip through?
“Adam Marshall and John Barilaro are kidding themselves if they consider this a tough penalty.
“They may as well open the farm gates for these invaders because until there is a penalty under the Crimes Act there is no deterrent for these terrorists.
“John Barilaro and Adam Marshall have weaselled out of their responsibility to protect farmers,” said Mr Banasiak.
