Privacy Act win for farmers against ‘attack map’ activist lobby Aussie Farms

Controversial online “attack map” Aussie Farms will be aligned with Federal law regulating how farmers’ personal information is used, opening the platform up to penalties of more than $400,000 for potential privacy breaches.

Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Attorney-General Christian Porter announced this morning that the animal rights charity would be brought under the Privacy Act.

Aussie Farms, which published farmers’ locations and contact details on its website Aussie Farms Repository, was previously exempt from the Act because its annual turnover was less than $3 million.

Under the decision, Aussie Farms will be deemed an “organisation” according to the Act, which requires the charity to comply with the law regardless of annual turnover.

Offenders can be slapped with a maximum $420,000 penalty for breaching the regulation.

Mr Littleproud said the alignment would safeguard farmers from potential activist attacks.

“The farming families who grow our food deserve to be able to do so without fear of invasion on their property and harm to their children,” he said.

“The Aussie Farms website is intended to be an attack map for activists and it is already working as one.

“Aussie Farms will now be required to comply with the Privacy Act, which includes laws against the misuse of personal information.”

The announcement comes after WAFarmers sent guidelines to its members on Wednesday outlining how to handle a potential on-farm activist attack.

The lobby group encouraged members to follow the “three Rs”:

• Remain calm
• Record any confrontation
• Report to the police