Animal activists invade abattoirs, stop traffic in nationwide wave of protests
Animal activists have brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill, invaded abattoirs and rescued three sheep in a wave of early-morning protests across three states.
The protests in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland are being held to mark one year since the release of the Dominion film, which documented factory farming in Australia.
In Queensland, activists were granted the release of three sheep from the Carey Bros abattoir at Yangan. In Melbourne, more than 100 protesters brought peak-hour traffic to a standstill for two hours after using vans to block a major intersection.
Marty Bella from Greens Shirts Queensland, a movement for regional and rural Australians, condemned the actions of the protesters and Yangan abattoir staff.
"There was a negotiation with the proprietors so by the time police got there the deal was done," he said.
The proprietors agreed not to make a formal complaint, meaning the activists escaped arrest - with their sheep.
Separately, nine activists said they had locked themselves onto a Goulburn slaughterhouse in NSW since 2am to shine a light on what they said was the "oxymoron of humane slaughter".
NSW police said nine people had been arrested at Goulburn after the owner of the abattoir asked the protestors to leave around 4am, but they allegedly refused.
“Goulburn police rescue cut the people free and arrested them at the scene,” a spokesperson said. “Three women refused to walk from the abattoir and had to be carried to the police vehicle.”
Three men, aged 46, 22 and six women, aged between 21 and 61 will be charged at the Goulburn Police station.
Activists have also let down truck tyres to block entrances and exits at three locations across Victoria, including MC Herd at Geelong, Westside Meats at Bacchus Marsh, and O'Connor Beef at Pakenham.
Several activists filmed themselves blocking the entrance of Australian Food Group's pig slaughterhouse in Laverton. More than a hundred people blocked the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets in Melbourne's CBD.
Chris Delforce from the Dominion movement said activists were prepared to be arrested but were ready to pay the price to highlight their cause.
"Yes there's trespass involved in the actions today,' he said.
"We've been trying to draw attention to what's been happening for many years. It's easy for people things to ignore things that aren't dramatic. When you go in there, it's forcing people to look and make that call as to whether that's something they're okay with."
He said members of the public delayed by the protests could end up feeling more angry about animal abuses he said they were highlighting.
"Often they get angry, that it's been hidden from them for so long and hidden behind these words like 'ethical' and 'happy meat,' people are frustrated that they've been sold this lie for so long," he said.
"What's happening to animals in this country has to end, it's a disgrace."
The protests follow the release of the Dominion movement's Aussie Farms Map, which details the locations of farms and animal-processing plants across the country.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has called on the group to take down their "attack map" after one business listed was broken into.
"If this activist attack map remains online, I fear someone will be seriously hurt or worse," he said.