Documents obtained under freedom of information have shed new light on the extent of illegal trespassing on farms by animal activists, an experience Blantyre Farms owner and operator Edwina Beveridge knows all too well.
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The documents, obtained by the NSW Greens, provide a summary of a private meeting in August 2015 hosted by Federal Agriculture and Water Resources Minister Barnaby Joyce and attended by representatives from NSW police, RSPCA NSW and NSW Farmers.
It is stated in the documents that 38 piggeries in the Young area have been trespassed upon by animal activists, this number includes Mrs Beveridge’s farm.
“Activists have broken into our farm on ten separate occasions,” Mrs Beveridge said.
“We’ve discovered hidden cameras in our pig shed … they go looking for sensationalist footage.”
The break-ins were traumatic for Mrs Beveridge and her family and they’ve upped security at their farm since the incidents.
“It’s not a nice feeling knowing that people are breaking into our business.
“We’ve increased our security but it’s hard to protect yourself completely, I lock my doors every night which I didn’t used to do before,” she said.
Mrs Beveridge acknowledged that people oppose intensive farming operations like her piggery but said that breaking the law is inexcusable.
“There’s a right way to go about things, people shouldn't be above the law,” she said.
Outspoken animal activist and opponent of Blantyre Farms Lisa Ryan disagreed with Mrs Beveridge and said activists are forced to act when regulatory bodies failed to do so.
“Most animal activists will adhere to the law but in absolute frustration after going to regulatory authorities time and time again and getting nowhere they become so frustrated they feel they have a moral and ethical obligation to inform the community and public about what’s going on,” Ms Ryan said.
She disputed Mrs Beveridge’s claims that trespasses are traumatic for farmers.
“Exposing animal abuse is a very non-violent approach.
“If you’ve got nothing to hide then what’s the problem?,” she said.
Ms Ryan has been strongly campaigning against the new Blantyre Farms piggery during its third period of public exhibition which closes on January 3.