Australian agricultural leaders demand harsher penalties for armed trespass

Agricultural leaders across Australia are calling for increased penalties for armed trespass on rural land, citing a rise in various forms of rural crime. The movement follows recent legislative reforms in Tasmania, where the maximum penalty for trespassing on rural property while carrying a firearm was increased from $20,200 or two years of imprisonment to $30,300 or three years in prison.

While previous legislative changes in other jurisdictions were often driven by animal activist incursions, producer groups report that current concerns have shifted. Leaders highlight issues such as illegal hunting, poaching, stock theft, livestock shootings, property damage, and arson. TasFarmers president Nathan Cox stated that previous sentences for armed trespass in rural areas were too light compared to similar offenses in urban settings.