Recently, a celebrity lifestyle coach/personal trainer named Michelle Bridges wrote that we should all oppose legal moves to prevent animal activists from trespassing on private property to expose alleged animal cruelty. “… There’s no hiding the fact,” she said, “that the animals plus money equation usually equals pain and suffering.”

This is the sort of misrepresentation that farmers face with increasing regularity. Until now, they have depended on the innate common sense of the Australian public to place this sort of hyperbole into context.

Nobody, particularly farmers or the TFGA, tolerates animal cruelty, lack of hygiene, product substitution or deception. Every industry has its bad apples; but this does not reflect the industry as a whole.

Within days, a correspondent calling himself Bill Farmer responded to Ms Bridges’ outburst. Mr Farmer described the issue as being about a law the government was talking about introducing to stop people from trespassing on farms and planting video cameras in pig and chook sheds to try to catch farmers mistreating their animals.

“I was pretty cranky about what you wrote because the people breaking into farms in the middle of the night have been terrifying farm families (farms are also where farm families live) and also breaking biosecurity rules that prevent the animals getting diseases,” he said.

“Why they are bothering to break into these farms is a bit of a mystery – most of the local farmers I know are more than happy to have visitors call in, and so much the better if they want to stay a few days and help out.

“You seem to think it’s OK to break into a farm and secretly film what is happening on account of the fact that you and your mates in the city want to be sure the food you are eating has come from farms that don’t treat their animals badly or break any laws.

“This is a bit surprising to me, as last time I was in the city and went to a supermarket I noticed that most of the pigmeat and nearly all the canned fruit and vegetables in the supermarket was imported from overseas countries that don’t have any of the rules we operate under here, so that left me wondering just how fussy you and your mates really are about where your food comes from.”

What if the shoe were on the other foot? What if personal trainers and lifestyle coaches like Michelle Bridges had to be above suspicion.

“… the only way I can see to make sure you always follow your own advice would be for surveillance cameras to be put in your home, and for other cameras to follow you around and keep track of what you eat and drink and how much exercise you do, and for that video footage to be made available to all your customers,” Bill Farmer said.

“That way they could be sure that you really do all the exercise you recommend and only consume the right food and drink, and that you don’t cheat by taking a few weight loss pills or having a bit of cosmetic surgery done to keep you looking good.

“So, what about it Michelle?”

The motives of those who invade private homes in order to gather ‘evidence’ can be judged by the fact that, rather than take information to the authorities, they prefer to act through the media; and they often wait some time before doing so.

The adage about being innocent until proven guilty holds no sway in these circumstances. There is no proof test with the media. The aim is to humiliate their victim with one-sided, untested and provocative material. And once done, such damage can never be undone – even if the accusations are proven to be false and unfounded.

In 2011, animal activists levelled allegations of animal cruelty at a long-established family-owned abattoir in regional Victoria. The consequences were far-reaching:
authorities quickly shut down the abattoir, leading to job losses and business closures. After months and months of publicity and investigation, charges were dropped before the matter ever went to court and the authorities gave the operation the all-clear. But, by then, the family were emotionally and financially devastated and unable to restart their lives. This incident raised questions about the tactics of the animal right group, Animals Australia, and the behaviour of the agency responsible for the prosecution.

Every man’s home is his castle. Privacy and being able go about your business in your own home without fear are the right of every Australian.

I am all for open debate; but I also support the rule of law.

The rule of law says it is for the appropriate authorities to determine whether crimes, felonies or misdemeanours have been committed, not self-appointed vigilante activists committing trespass and trampling on the rights of people who might well be completely innocent.
Jan Davis, TFGA CEO.