Militant vegan, 37, gloats after escaping a conviction because it means she can keep her cushy government job which 'pays for her activism'
- Angela Banovic said she is grateful for her government job as it pays for activism
- Ms Banovic taken before courts after chaining herself to machinery at abattoir
- The 37-year-old was fined $500 and forced to pay $180 in restitution fees
- She said she was glad to keep a clean slate as it meant she could keep her job
A militant vegan has avoided a conviction for trespassing onto an abattoir, saying the ruling means she can keep the cushy government job which funds her activism.
Angela Banovic fronted court on Wednesday after she stormed onto the Carey Bros abattoir in remote Yangan, about 160km southwest of Brisbane.
Ms Banovic chained herself to machinery at the slaughterhouse in a coordinated protest against meat production on April 8.
The 37-year-old and her fellow activists only left the premises after the abattoir owner handed them three lambs.
Ms Banovic managed to avoid conviction when she appeared at Warwick Magistrates Court but was ordered to pay $180 in restitution to the abattoir and a $500 fine.
In a comment on Facebook, Ms Bandovic said she hated paying the fine but remarked that the ruling meant she could keep her state government job.
'I need to be able to travel and I also need to have no convictions for my employment that pays for my activism,' she wrote.
Angela Banovic (pictured) fronted court on Wednesday after she stormed onto the Carey Bros abattoir in remote Yangan, about 160kms southwest of Brisbane
Ms Banovic chained herself to machinery at the slaughterhouse last month in a coordinated protest to object against meat production
In a comment on Facebook, Ms Bandovic stressed she needed to keep a clean slate for the sake of her job
Following her court appearance, Ms Banovic made a Facebook live-video where she re-read the statement she read to the court which asked for a clean slate for the sake of her job.
'I have never been charged with any offences, have been a law-abiding citizen my whole life and always sought police approval prior to any protest.
'If I am charged and this goes on my record it would have immediate significant impact against my employment. I worked very hard in my career to get to the level I am at.'
Ms Banovic has 14 years of experience as a senior executive officer and now works as a Queensland government employee at the Department of Public Works.
According to online job search engine Indeed, the salary ranges from $61,383 per year for an administrative officer to $111,875 per year for a manager.
In the video seen by Gold Coast Bulletin, Ms Banovic apologised for breaking the law.
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'I don't intentionally break the law and I don't promote it, I am not sorry I stood up for animals.
'I wanted to draw attention to the inherent cruelty, ask for transparency, when I saw footage inside this particular slaughterhouse it broke my heart.
'The industry tries to paint a pretty picture that something human happened in this facilities, this doesn't happen, people just aren't paying attention and they don't want to see it.'
Only recently Ms Banvoic had to kickstart a fundraising page to help cover the cost of another fine she had been given from a different protest.
The 37-year-old managed to avoid conviction, but will have to pay $180 in restitution to the abattoir and a $500 fine
Ms Banovic has 14 years of experience as a senior executive officer and now works as a Queensland government employee at the Department of Public Works
Last December, Ms Banovic was part of a group of protesters that disrupted a dolphin show at SeaWorld.
The walk-in led to the cancellation of the dolphin performance and upsetting families and children, who had just started their school holidays.
Ms Banovic was forced to pay $783, but had to start a fundraising page to cover the costs as her overseas activism trips had taken its toll.
'I have put myself into debt and spent all my money on activism in the past 4 months,' she said in a January 5 Facebook post.
'Flights for my attempt to re-enter Japan to be a voice for the dolphin in Taiji, QLD for the sunrise at SeaWorld event and flights etc to Mexico spending 2.5 months on campaign on the M/V Sharpie. I have then borrowed money to move to QLD.
'I would do it again!'
Last December, Ms Banovic was part of a group of protesters that disrupted a dolphin show at SeaWorld (pictured, Ms Banovic asks for financial assistance to pay off a fine she was given after a protest at SeaWorld)
