Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes has slammed Aussie Farms’ online name-and-shame map as “absolutely unacceptable”.
Ms Symes said the government was giving police the resources, tools and powers they needed to enforce the law and keep the community safe.
She said existing laws in Victoria were in place to safeguard the rights of farmers, including when it came to trespass.
"Anyone found guilty of trespass already faces tough consequences which may include imprisonment,” she said.
”[It] puts hard working farming families at risk.”
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Section 9 of the Summary Offences Act 1966 makes it an offence to enter private premises without the consent of the owner or occupier.
This offence carries a maximum penalty of six months’ imprisonment.
In addition, there are a range of other summary and indictable offences that may apply to individuals trespassing on farming land for the purpose of protesting, including wilful damage of property, criminal damage, entry likely to breach the peace, contamination of goods and unlawful assembly.
Ms Symes encouraged anyone who had witnessed wrongdoing to contact the relevant authorities.
Meanwhile, Shadow Minister for Agriculture Peter Walsh has backed Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud’s move to write to the Charities Commission asking it to consider revoking Aussie Farms’ charity status.
“Militant animal activists illegally entering Victorian farms and stealing livestock aren’t doing the work of a charity, they’re breaking the law,” Mr Walsh said.
“Any organisation found to be promoting or financially supporting this type of common theft should face the full force of the law, and they certainly shouldn’t be afforded charity tax benefits.”
He said there were significant questions around the map given it encourages users to upload their own photos and videos of the listed properties.
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