He personally believed the protestors harmed their cause by their actions, although it was "a matter for the community to determine", and acknowledged some people may have felt alarmed at the commotion given recent attacks in the CBD. One such person was city worker Dianne Delbridge, who came out of her Flinders Street office to flashing lights and police. Protesters being moved by police about 9am. Credit:Zach Hope She happened to be in hospital with a broken ankle when victims were brought into her ward from the Flinders Street attack in 2017. "The first thing your head goes to is 'has there been another terror attack'. I’m sure that’s where everyone’s head goes," she said. "I understand why people want to protect animals – I do myself – but I don’t think it’s worth disrupting and frightening people." The vans, which had been parked in the middle of the intersection, are being towed. Credit:Zach Hope The Melbourne protest was the biggest in a wave of co-ordinated action in Victoria, Tasmania, NSW and Queensland that saw animal-rights activists raid abattoirs, meatworks and even negotiate the release of three sheep from the Carey Bros' plant in Yangan, near Toowoomba, in Queensland. At three Victorian abattoirs – MC Herd in Geelong, Westside Meats in Bacchus Marsh, and O’Connors Abattoir in Pakenham – activists drove trucks across the entrances and exits and then let down their tyres. Several activists filmed themselves blocking the entrance of Australian Food Group's pig slaughterhouse in Laverton, in Melbourne's south-west. Nine protesters said they locked themselves onto a Goulburn slaughterhouse in NSW since 2am to shine a light on what they said was the "oxymoron of humane slaughter". They were arrested by police who had to cut them free and carry them to police cars. One Victorian protester said: "Things like this will keep happening until we see change, until ... it's a vegan world." Protesters connected outside the Melbourne Aquarium. Credit:Zach Hope But Chris Delforce, director of the Dominion film and a leader in the nationwide action, was more cirumspect about what may come next. "That's a good question," he said. "I'm not actually sure how to answer that. We're just going to keep promoting the film. We figure anyone who watches the film will understand why we did this and maybe will participate in future actions." He said the potential to scare commuters was "absolutely on our mind", which was why, he said, protesters and vans moved slowly into the intersection and were quick to assure non-participants there was no danger. He said no-one stood to make any money out of extra film sales or online views. Protesters linked together with pipes and chains outside Melbourne Aquarium. Credit:Zach Hope "[It's] about creating conversations that need to be had that we weren't having otherwise," he said. "It's easy for the public to ignore it if it's not interrupting their day." Prime Minister Scott Morrison lashed out at the "shameful, un-Australian" protesters and said the government was prepared to join or bankroll a civil lawsuit brought by any affected farmers against the activists. "I think state and territory governments should ensure the full force of the law is brought against these green-collared criminals," Mr Morrison said. Protesters in the middle of the Flinders and Swanston streets intersection. Credit:Zach Hope Victorian Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes would not be drawn on new or harsher penalties for such disruptive protests, but said she would be talking to police in coming days. "I'm outraged that you've got 12 year olds sitting in the main intersection of Melbourne under the false pretense that these people are there for a just cause," she said.<doc-sep>Three teenagers are among 38 people arrested over an animal rights protest that blocked a major Melbourne intersection causing chaos for commuters during the morning peak hour. Hundreds of animal activists from all over Victoria gathered at 5.30am outside Flinders St station holding signs and blocking cars and trams from passing through. Animal rights protesters are slowly being arrested and dragged into police vans after blocking a major Melbourne CBD intersection. More than 100 activists are chanting “What do we want? Animal liberation — now!” with some sitting on tram tracks near the Flinders-Swanston street intersection. Protesters are holding signs that say “This is a peaceful protest” and “SOS animal emergency climate emergency”. One man started jumping up and down before being detained by five police officers. At the scene, news.com.au saw protesters sitting in a tight circle in the intersection as police officers physically lifted them and carried them away. Cops arrested one woman in her 40s and another woman aged in her 70s. Two 17-year-olds, a 15-year-old and 35 adults were also arrested and could face charges relating to obstructing a roadway, and resisting police. Protestors being carried out of the middle of Swanston and Flinders streets now. Literally. @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/1trAsa59rv — Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) April 7, 2019 Bloke with his toddler in a pram tells protesters they’re “absolutely pathetic” for blocking the Melbourne CBD to push veganism. @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/V70uMG75xv — Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) April 7, 2019 A large crowd cheered as the pair were handcuffed and led into the back of a waiting police van. More than 10 protesters were lifted from the intersection by Victoria Police’s Public Order Response Team. Others, who were not willing to face arrest for their cause, quietly took their signs and walked away. Four rental vans, covered with signage for a documentary, were parked at all four corners of the intersection before tow trucks were called in to move them. As the intersection cleared, protesters moved to Melbourne’s Sea Life Aquarium, where they chained themselves together in front of the doors, blocking entry to parents and children on day one of school holidays. The protests are part of a wave of action that includes activists blocking the entrance to the MC Herd abattoir in Geelong and chaining themselves to a truck in Pakenham, southeast of Melbourne. Protests are also being planned for Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart, but the exact locations are closely guarded secrets. Vegan activists have blocked the intersection of Flinders and Swanston St at peak hour. @newscomauHQ pic.twitter.com/3D92jNVY1v — Rohan Smith (@Ro_Smith) April 7, 2019 Vegan activists have also blocked the entrance to the MC Herd abattoir in Geelong. pic.twitter.com/lRUXMSw5gW — 3AW Melbourne (@3AW693) April 7, 2019 Prime Minister Scott Morrison admonished the animal activists as “un-Australian” on 2GB radio this morning. “It is shameful, it is un-Australian,” he said. “This is just another form of activism that I think runs against the national interest, and the national interest is being able to farm their own land.” The PM isn’t the only one frustrated. Commuters were turned away from tram stops and told to find alternative options. Traffic was diverted around the CBD. One man, with a toddler in a pram, confronted the protesters and called them “absolutely pathetic” for blocking the Melbourne CBD. Angry tradesmen were also seen yelling at the vegans. Victorian Liberal MP Tim Smith tweeted that the “militant vegans” should be “arrested or moved on”. Then he blamed the Daniel Andrews-led government for watering down laws “for these types of self-indulgent nutters”. However, vegans on the ground say their aims are “hard to argue with”. Paediatric neuropsychology doctor Helen Jeges held a sign above her head at this morning’s protest on Flinders St. It read: “I am a doctor. Vegan: 5 years.” “We want to open people’s eyes to what they’re really paying for,” Dr Jeges told news.com.au. She said many Aussies weren’t aware that male chicks were killed in farms because they do not lay eggs. They are killed via a process known as “quick maceration” — where chicks are dropped into a grinding machine alive. The RSPCA considers this the “more humane” option because chicks are killed within a second. “A lot of people don’t know that if you buy eggs, male chicks are ground up alive. It’s to raise awareness,” Dr Jeges said. She said the protests had not been met by hostility, but commuters were frustrated this morning when trying to catch trams through the CBD. “The response has been really great,” Dr Jeges said. “We don’t expect any antagonism. We represent kindness, equality, nonviolence, and so it’s hard to argue against that.” The activists are trying to bring attention to the documentary Dominion on the one-year anniversary of the film’s release. It shows footage inside Australia’s abattoirs. The peaceful protest is a far cry from what took place at the Gippy Goat Cafe in Victoria’s Gippsland region over the weekend, according to owners. The cafe was forced to close because of what staff called “nearby four months of constant harassment, vile statements and threats from the abusive vegan activists”. In a Facebook post outlining the business’s decision to shut up show, owners said it was “regrettably the best option”. Farmers across NSW and Queensland have also been placed on high alert as a number of groups plan to carry out a series of co-ordinated raids, which they say is “the biggest animal rights direct action the world has ever seen”. In Goulburn, in the NSW Southern Tablelands, nine people were arrested after chaining themselves to a conveyor and refusing to move on, police say. “Three women refused to walk from the abattoir and had to be carried to the police vehicle,” a police spokesman said. This morning, police also broke up a protest at a Queensland abattoir. About 20 animal rights campaigners descended on the Warwick abattoir and chained themselves to equipment before police were called to remove them. Brad King, from the activist group Farm Animal Rescue, was among those at the Warwick protest and said animals slaughtered at the site had endured terrifying deaths. INCIDENT: CBD - A protest currently underway in the CBD has the Flinders Street Swanston Street intersection blocked. @VictoriaPolice are currently on-site. Allow extra time. #victraffic pic.twitter.com/fegQOalKX3 — VicTraffic (@VicTraffic) April 7, 2019 “There are numerous occasions where they’re not stunned properly, but even when they are, the footage unequivocally demonstrates that it’s impossible to ‘humanely’ kill an animal who desperately doesn’t want to die,” he said in a statement. The Queensland Government is increasing powers to stop animal rights protesters invading farms for protests that are putting stress on farmers already struggling after floods and drought. New laws are being drafted to allow police and agricultural officers to fine vegan activists whose activities risk the lives of farmers, workers and animals, says Mark Furner, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries. “Everyone has the right to protest, but nobody has the right to break the law,” Mr Furner said in a statement yesterday. Queensland farmers deserved respect and needed to be protected, he said. “Many of our farmers are already under great stress following years of drought and more recently the floods, and we are standing side-by-side with them,” Mr Furner said. The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries will form a joint task force with the state police intelligence unit to focus on animal activism. Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk said the activists were coming mainly from interstate to cause Queensland farmers distress, and their activities were also impacting the export industry. Mr Furner said the task force and fines were being designed to act as a strong deterrent to unlawful behaviour. The move comes after Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud has been calling for higher fines from states. He has also been calling, so far unsuccessfully, for one animal rights group to pull down a controversial map of farm locations the minister calls an “attack map”. The Aussie Farms Map says it is a comprehensive, interactive map of factory farms, slaughterhouses and other animal exploitation facilities across Australia.<doc-sep>Australian carnivores have fired back at vegan activists, taunting them with countless pictures of their meat-laden meals online. As hundreds of activists gathered in Melbourne and caused commuter chaos to declare animals were “friends not food”, meat eaters took to social media to mock them with photographs of their meaty lunches. The protests came as the National Farmers Federation and Australian Livestock Exporters Council warned members about the nationwide Dominion Movement, which was the same group linked to raids on farmers’ land around the country. On Twitter, users hi-jacked the #vegan and #veganprotest hashtags with pictures of burgers, steaks and bacon sandwiches, seemingly to infuriate protesters campaigning against the “abuse” of animals and the “dark underbelly” of the farming industry. “I was going to have a salad for lunch, instead, directly due to the #vegan terrorists in Melbourne today, I’m having a juicy beef burger - with extra bacon. #veganlife,” Twitter user @markc01 said. Meanwhile, West Australian Gemma Tognini, who is also a columnist for The West Australian, used Twitter to boast how she was “gonna have steak for breakfast. Then wear a leather skirt to work. Then have some collagen hydrolysate beef gelatin protein powder for my arvo snack.” Others used memes of bacon-filled sandwiches to ask “is this too much... lettuce?”, while Twitter user @turtlemagpies implored Australians to “#putoutyourbeef“ in support of farmers. The protests were organised to mark the one-year anniversary of the film Dominion, which used drones and hidden cameras to film inside farms to show how animals are treated during the production process. In Melbourne, police arrested 38 activists who blocked a major intersection, causing chaos for commuters during the morning peak hour.<doc-sep>
Almost 40 vegan activists have been charged after blocking traffic at Flinders Street Station as part of nationwide "peaceful" protests against abattoirs, and police say they could face imprisonment. Just after 7am on Monday, protesters chained themselves to vans at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston Street in Melbourne, holding signs reading: "This is a peaceful protest". Tow trucks arrived two hours after the action began to start removing three vans parked on the tram tracks, and police started hauling away activists refusing to move on. Police arrested 39 people, including two 17-year-olds and a 15-year-old, in relation to obstructing a roadway and resisting or obstructing police. All have been charged and bailed to attend court. "The offences of resist and obstruct police are Crimes Act offences, so it could be imprisonment," Superintendent David Clayton said when asked the maximum penalties for the offences. Animal rights protesters block the intersections of Flinders and Swanston Street. Credit: David Crosling / AAP "We want them to be able to express their views peacefully. "But we don’t want them disrupting the major transport services, people trying to get to work – people who may not be interested in their cause but want to go about their day to day business." Flinders Street was reopened about 10.30am and many of the protesters moved on to chain themselves up at the Sealife aquarium. Superintendent David Clayton said the lack of prior engagement with police from the protesters and the disruption to peak hour commuters was disappointing. Chevron Right Icon 'Vehicles in the CBD blocking roads causes alarm.' "My personal view is I think it’s harmed their cause, but I think that's for the community to determine," he said. "A peaceful protest is a protest that has no impact on the broader community." "Ambulances needed to be re-routed because the intersection was closed. So it has an impact on the CBD." The protesters blocked trams and traffic. Credit: Vic Traffic Superintendent Clayton said there was also a concern among the public who saw the road blocks that the incident was similar to the Bourke Street attack. "I can reassure the community at no stage was there a risk of an incident like Bourke Street, but I can understand people’s unrest and feeling unsafe when intersections are blocked," he said. "Vehicles in the CBD blocking roads causes alarm." The protest comes after hundreds of animal rights activists rallied on Saturday outside Queen Victoria Market, as part of a global protest calling for an end to slaughterhouses. Some of the activists chained themselves to vans during the protest. Credit: David Crosling / AAP In addition, a Victorian country cafe was forced to close its doors after saying they felt personally threatened in a campaign of harassment by animal activists against their business. On Sunday, John and Penny Gommans, both 61, announced they were closing their Gippy Goat Cafe in the small Victorian town of Yarragon, about 110km south-east of Melbourne. Chevron Right Icon 'Police will not tolerate any anti-social behaviour or violence.' Besides operating as a full cafe, the venue manufactured a range of goats milk products and families could feed the on-site goats and watch them being milked. Activists chained themselves to cars. Credit: Paul Dowsley / 7NEWS Play Video Police confront 20 animal activists chained together in an abattoir in Queensland. Police confront 20 animal activists chained together in an abattoir in Queensland. Protests are also underway at a meatworks in Corio and at Pakenham, where activists have chained themselves to a truck. In the city, some trams have stopped running while others are being diverted. Commuters are being told to consider the city loop train as an alternative.