Militant Vegans: Australian government proposing new laws to better protect farmers

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Australia's government is proposing new legislation to better protect farmers against animal rights' activists. The measures are in response to a growing number of violent attacks and other illegal activity. Greg Navarro has more from Sydney.

Dozens of vegan activists chose Melbourne's morning rush earlier this month to block an intersection in the city's centre to bring attention to their message.

PROTESTER "These animals' lives are still being taken, they're still being sent to slaughter. It's part of the system for them to be killed, it's part of it. So they're going to their deaths, they're fighting and they're screaming."

Nearly 40 people were arrested, several had to be dragged away, with little sympathy from many commuters.

COMMUTER "I think we're aware of the issues, but why have a protest and disrupt everybody on their orderly progress to work."

The protests were part of a coordinated effort in 3 states and a growing movement that has included claims of raiding farms, and stealing livestock.

GREG MCFARLANE DIRECTOR, VEGAN AUSTRALIA "The animal rights people going on to people's properties is always to do with documenting how the animals are being treated, they are not after the people involved."

JAMES JACKSON PRESIDENT, NSW FARMERS ASSOCIATION "Some of our people have been invaded several times and we are seeing it increase."

James Jackson is the president of the New South Wales Farmers Association. He's also a farmer.

JAMES JACKSON PRESIDENT, NSW FARMERS ASSOCIATION "People are feeling threatened. It is a personal invasion of their space, I mean these are our homes, that is where we live."

GREG NAVARRO SYDNEY "The issue has gotten the attention of Australia's government. Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the protests shameful and un-Australian, and the country's attorney general has written to states and territories urging them to increase laws and enforcement to deter similar protests."

The attorney general has also called for an investigation into a website that lists the location of hundreds of farms and encourages people to document animal exploitation. Some farmers have turned to social media to vent their frustration

BRENDAN FARRELL FARMER "Vegans are going bananas. Blockades left, right, and centre, Flinders Street Station is in chaos, abattoirs as they are being chained up, front gates people locking themselves here, there, and everywhere."

Farming groups are urging their members to resist calls to fight back, and instead are asking farmers to record everything, to help police with their investigations. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Sydney.