On Monday evening Littleproud successfully moved to suspend standing orders to pass the drought fund bill in one day “without delay at any stage”. New South Wales is already preparing to introduce Australia’s toughest laws against activists who illegally enter farmers’ properties. Labor’s agriculture spokesman, Joel Fitzgibbon, is concerned the laws could affect journalists, whistleblowers and farmers opposed to issues like coal seam gas. “This is almost entirely in the jurisdiction of the states and you see the states are beefing up their trespass laws,” Fitzgibbon said. “Vigilantes who are entering our farmers’ property illegally are nothing short of domestic terrorists – our farmers have had a gutful,” Barilaro said.

Source: The Guardian July 22, 2019 06:11 UTC