Minister for Agriculture and Deputy Leader of the Nationals David Littleproud has today welcomed stronger measures to strip charitable status from extreme activist organisations that illegally harass, intimidate and spy on farming families.
“Extreme activist groups who target law-abiding Australian farmers will no longer be able to claim tax-free status for their fundraising efforts, with a broader range of prohibited conduct to be considered against their charitable status,” Minister Littleproud said.
“New regulations introduced by the Australian Government will now include trespass, unlawful entry, malicious damage or vandalism and threatening violence.
“The changes also strip charitable status from any group that uses their resources to promote or support others to engage in the conduct prohibited by the new regulation.
“I know these changes will be widely welcomed and supported by farmers who live with the very real nightly threat of being attacked and having their property destroyed and vandalised, not to mention the serious biosecurity and animal welfare risks these mindless extremists bring with them.
“Activists thugs who take the law into their own hands will now find it more difficult to fund their illegal operations, and that is a good thing for Australian farmers and their families,” Minister Littleproud said today.
