Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1697641863618.pdf (Australia)
Level 5, 131 Clarence Street Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 149 Sydney NSW 2001 Telephone: (02) 9290 3700 Facsimile: (02)9290 2808 Website: www.feedlots.com.au A.B.N.
16 009 928 018 30 July 2019 Committee Secretary Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 RE: CRIMINAL CODE AMENDMENT (AGRICULTURE PROTECTION) BILL 2019 As the Peak Industry Council representing grainfed beef producers, the Australian Lot Feeders’ Association (ALFA) writes to you following the proposed amendments to the Criminal Code Legislation.
The cattle feedlot industry is an integral part of the Australian beef supply chain, accounting for 40% of beef production nationally.

Our industry contributes $4.4B to the Australian economy and employs almost 2,000 people directly and 30,000 indirectly nationally.

If feedlots ceased to exist, Deloitte Access Economics estimates that the Australian economy would shrink by $10.3 billion and shed 49,000 full-time employees, based on knock-on effects.
Importantly much of this impact would be felt in regional based economies where feedlots are located.

As you are aware the feedlot sector has been a target of recent illegal trespass incidents and intimidation tactics adopted by extreme animal activists.

The distress these actions cause to the families, staff and livestock cannot be underestimated.
The consequences of illegal trespass on agricultural and intensive animal production facilities, include: • Physical and menial impact to those people whose farms are being invaded.

• Animal Welfare risks and implications.

• Biosecurity risks and implication.

• Public safety risks to the activists themselves and others.

Feedlot families and their employees are the lifeblood of our industry and our number one priority is their safety.
Equally, our members take the health and welfare of their livestock extremely seriously, and continued incursions are a distraction to administering the highest level of livestock care.

Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 [Provisions]Submission 68 ALFA acknowledges that protecting our farmers from trespass that cause risks to human safety, livestock welfare and biosecurity is a shared responsibility between Governments, the police force and industry.
As the representative body for the grainfed beef industry ALFA provides ongoing support to Australian feedlots in implementing procedures to respond to activist incursions, issues management and farm security advice.

ALFA is unapologetic for firmly requesting improved intervention and preventative measures to address invasions and deter trespass and other activist activities where these occur illegally on livestock production entities.
We do acknowledge the right of free speech and peaceful protest within our democratic society where this is conducted in a respectful and lawful way.

ALFA welcomed the recent amendments in both Queensland and New South Wales State legislation which allows the Police Service and Biosecurity Officers to fine people on-the-spot who put on-farm biosecurity at risk.
However, ALFA is supportive of governments adopting a multifaceted approach to deter illegal trespass to prevent the impact such activities have on farming families, staff, livestock and biosecurity.
ALFA is supportive of Government adopting a suite of deterrents that include on-the spot-fines and strong penalties for people who illegally trespass and cause economic loss to legitimate agricultural businesses, penalties for people who illegally trespass and commit further crimes on such businesses; and finally penalties for people who coordinate and incite others to commit illegal trespass on agricultural land.
ALFA concurs that that these penalties should include significant monetary fines and/ or jail time to effectively deter such activity.

ALFA acknowledges that an exemption exists within the proposed Criminal Code Amendment Bill for instances associated with public interest.

Our industry supports transparency and therefore recognises the importance of such an exemption in enabling alleged breaches of animal welfare standards to be reported to appropriate authorities without fear or favour.
It will be important that this exemption be implemented keeping in mind the role state government authorities play in investigating such allegations and regulating where breaches to animal welfare standards have been found to have occurred.

To this end, ALFA supports the proposed Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 and seeks its expedited implementation into legislation.
We thank the Federal Government for their unwavering support for the agricultural sector and look forward to working alongside it to ensure we continue to deliver tangible outcomes for those producing Australia’s food and fibre.

Regards Christian Mulders Chief Executive Officer Criminal Code Amendment (Agricultural Protection) Bill 2019 [Provisions]Submission 68