The Liberals’ primary industries spokeswoman, Caroline Schaefer, has proposed new laws to prosecute animal rights protesters who intentionally cause damage to farming operations. She says the party is not targeting animal supporter groups like the RSPCA. “We’re fully supportive of the RSPCA and the legitimate animal friendly groups but it’s the extremist animal rights groups that we believe need to be certainly brought under control if not stopped,” she said.

If this gets you scatching your head ... think the other side of the world where Australia is suffering its own animal extremism campaign that looks decidely familar. With the SHAC 7 in court this week in the US and our own homegrown fanatics threatening all and sundry this clearly shows animal rights is nothing to do with animal welfare but all about a minority trying to impose its views on the majority by lawlessness.