CATTLE duffers will join outlaw bikie gangs as the latest group to feel the long arm of the law in Queensland following the weekend announcement by the state government that it will be increasing fines for stock stealing.
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The minimum fines for a range of stock offences will now be increased from $200 to $1100 per animal or the value of the animal, whichever is the higher amount.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said the government was throwing the book at stock thieves, and the fines reflected the seriousness of any cattle offence, no matter the level of criminality.
A grazier affected by cattle duffing in recent years, Scott Harris welcomed the news but at the same time said that the thieves needed to be caught first.
"I can't say anything bad about the Stock Squad - they've thrown a lot of resources into finding my cattle - but getting a conviction seems to be hard."
In his case, a fine for the 860 head reported missing from Yandarlo and Southampton Downs at Tambo in June 2012, could amount to $946,000.
"I'd prefer to lynch them but we definitely needed these tougher penalties," Mr Harris said.
The move was also welcomed by retired Stock Squad detective sergeant Jim Wilby, who said they had battled for higher penalties for years and nothing ever was done.
"This is a step in the right direction but the fellows in the field have got to be given the opportunity to catch them too," he said.
In his 28 years he said increasing amounts of paperwork and decreasing budgets made it harder to get out in the field.
"It's so easy with the mobility of today too," he added. "By the time they notice anything's missing, it could be too late."
Losses amounting to $5m are reported each year in Queensland but this is thought to be the tip of the iceberg.
Other amendments to the legislation will benefit investigating authorities and primary producers by:
- Empowering police to more effectively investigate stock crime by extending stock-related search warrant durations from the current seven to 21 days
- Modernising evidentiary requirements in stock offence prosecutions
- Maintaining the ability of police to immediately return cattle to victims of crime where there is no dispute as to ownership
- Streamlining the disposal process where there is a dispute as to ownership, allowing the stock to be sold pending an order from the Court to distribute the funds at the conclusion of proceedings.