October 20, 2013
The State Government has strengthened Queensland’s stock laws in a bid to stamp out cattle stealing.
Premier Campbell Newman said cattle stealing was a serious crime that required serious penalties.
“It is a dirty act that hurts farmers and the wider community, with annual losses in the millions of dollars,” Mr Newman said.
Attorney-General Jarrod Bleijie said the minimum fines for a range of stock offences would now be increased from $200 to $1100 per animal or the value of the animal, whichever was the higher amount.
“This reflects the seriousness of any cattle offence no matter the level of criminality,” Mr Blejie said.
“These fines will hit the hip pocket of those who attempt to profit from hard-working farmers.”
Other amendments to the legislation will:
- Empower police by extending stock-related search warrant durations from 7 to 21 days
- Modernise evidentiary requirements in stock offence prosecutions
- Maintain the ability of police to immediately return cattle to victims of crime where there is no dispute as to ownership
- Streamline the disposal process where there is a dispute as to ownership, allowing the stock to be sold pending an order from the Court to distribute the funds at the conclusion of proceedings
“Under the new laws, the Court can order the return of cattle when stock has strayed onto a person’s property and the land owner refuses to move the cattle,” he said.
