A Victorian farmer has called on the state government to stop protecting animal activists who have targeted him for a second time.
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Animal protection organisation Aussie Farms released footage on Wednesday of the legal practice of baby goats being shot in the skull with a captive bolt gun, which they say shows Victoria's farm animal welfare laws are inadequate.
Some of the kids are picked up, shot, and tossed down before being thrown into a bin on a property the activists say is in Trafalgar East, believed to be John Gommans' farm Cibus Goats.
The footage was released as Aussie Farms director Chris Delforce appeared at an inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Victorian Agriculture.
Although the captive bolt gun method is legal and accepted as humane, Mr Delforce said the footage proved the industry had "zero transparency or laws to properly govern it".
"Everything shown in this footage is completely legal under our current legislation. Victoria's farm animal welfare laws are inadequate, with codes of practice that are only voluntary to abide by," he said in a statement.
"We won't stop until the cruelty does."
The inquiry will consider legislation and other measures to prevent and deter activities by unauthorised people on agricultural and associated industries.
Mr Gommans says the government needs to be tougher.
Activists targeted his Gippy Goat Cafe in Yarragon last year and caused $2000 worth of stock losses, leading to a protester being slapped with $1 fines.
The cafe shut following the attacks, with Mr Gommans blaming "constant harassment, vile statements and threats from the abusive vegan activists".
"The extreme leniency afforded to the activists merely emboldens them to commit further crimes," Mr Gommans said in his submission to the inquiry.
"It is my recommendation that the Victorian government does not offer protection to animal rights activist activities or entertain their demands."
The Victorian government wants the public to have a say on the new proposed regulations aimed at preventing animal cruelty, before they replace the existing regulations on December 15.
Australian Associated Press
