All Australians rely on farmers and our agriculture industry every day, to supply our food requirements.Agriculture is a $60 billion industry, employing thousands of Australians in rural and regional Australia.More than 70% of our agricultural produce is exported, earning valuable income for the nation and helping improve our living standards.Attacks on our farmers by extreme activists are abhorrent and must be prevented.That is why, if re-elected, the Liberal and Nationals Government will legislate to make it an offence to use a carriage service, such as the internet, to disclose personal information to incite trespass on agricultural land where that could cause commercial detriment.What we have seen with Aussie Farms and the vegan protestors is the malicious use of personal information such as names, addresses and workplaces to incite people to break in to these properties and cause commercial damage.This causes incredible disruption and damage to hard working farmers and their families, and causes distress to their animals, and it all stems from websites such as Aussie Farms which collate and distribute personal information to promote these actions.If we are re-elected we will pass laws which will ensure that what Aussie Farms is doing is illegal and punishable by up to 12 months imprisonment or a fine of up to $12,600.We will ensure the new offence has appropriate exemptions such as those for bona-fide journalists and whistleblowers.This is not about protecting animal abusers from the spotlight; it's about stopping farmers and primary producers from having their lives and businesses invaded by extreme activists.The overwhelming majority of farmers and producers do the right thing and care for their animals humanely. They shouldn't face this type of disruption and harassment. But this won't protect people who are abusing animals or breaking laws.
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