State Parliament has rejected a private members bill, which its mover said aimed to strengthen farm trespass penalties.
The state government joined with the Greens, and Animal Justice Party, to vote down the Crimes Amendment (Trespass) Bill 2019.
It was put forward by Eastern Victorian Upper House MP, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party's Jeff Bourman.
Read more: Toughen farm trespass penalties: VFF
Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said it was long-standing practice, not to support private members bills.
"There is currently a Parliamentary Inquiry into the Impacts of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture, and we won't pre-empt the recommendations of that report," Ms Symes said.
"Illegal activities in the name of animal activism are unacceptable and put hard-working farming families, biosecurity, and the animals they claim to protect at risk.
"We will continue to work with farmers and the Victorian Farmers' Federation to tell their stories and demonstrate their commitment to the welfare of their animals while they produce high-quality food and fibre, create local jobs and sustain our country communities."
Ms Synes said significant penalties already applied to those who trespassed on farms, putting farmers' livelihoods at risk.
Mr Bourman put forward the amendment, which included a new aggravated trespass offence, with a mandatory minimum non-parole sentence of six months.
He also proposed making it an offence "to trespass with intent to make audio or visual recordings of people or animals associated with an animal enterprise".
The bill was intended to set sentencing expectations for the judiciary.
Mr Bourman has previously described current trespass laws as grossly inadequate and extremely difficult to enforce.
"Public expectation, not Parliament's expectation, is what drives this," Mr Bourman said.
"The inquiry will be due after summer, which is activist time.
"What are we going to tell the people between now and when the report arrives, let alone what the government does or does not do about it?"
He told Parliament voting the bill down would mean giving the green light to animal activists to trespass.
"What we are saying is that for the next six months, or whatever it is, we are not willing to do anything."
Opposition Agriculture spokesman Peter Walsh said the government had teamed up with the Greens and Animal Justice Party to vote against stronger penalties for people trespassing on Victorian farms.
"Our farmers have made it clear they want to see stronger protections against farm trespass," Mr Walsh said.
"But instead of backing our farmers, the government continues to side with those who want to push their extreme anti-agriculture agenda on Victorians and end livestock farming.
"Agriculture is the backbone of Victoria's economy, and we need the state government to get behind our farmers and food producers, not the activists who are trying to shut them down."