Some 143 guests attended the Rural Press Club of Queensland's function to listen to David McNamee, Lemontree Feedlot, Millmerran, reflect back seven months ago when more than 100 extreme activists invaded his family home and business.
The forum moderated by Craig Zonca of ABC Radio, also heard from Rowan McMonnies, managing director of Australian Eggs, Sydney, NSW.
Mr McNamee said the experience is still raw today, as the activists showed no respect and called him, his family and staff, murderers, killers and rapists.
He said he calls for proper convictions to be recorded for people who invade farms as this would prevent them from getting visas and from being employed in some occupations.
"This would make it proper deterrent, as I don't care how much they get fined," he said.
He said one of the female activists who invaded his feedlot had received a one dollar fine on four occasions.
Mr McMonnies said that intensive food production systems can take air out of animal activist tyres by openly answering the questions around animal welfare.
He said a lack of consumer understanding of food supply chains gives animal activists the means to influence growing curiosity around how food is produced and how farmers are treating animals.
Helen Walker
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
Helen is the Toowoomba-based journalist who loves nothing better than covering anything horse sport related, however she covers all commodities and personality yarns. Over the years she has lived in Brisbane, Rockhampton, Longreach and Roma filing stories for the 'bible of the bush'. Contact 0459 827414.
