AR-News: "Animal activist's fine 'a joke'" -- Weekly Times (Australia)

[Karen Dawn]

(The Weekly Times takes letters at: wtimes at hwt.newsltd.com.au  )

Weekly Times (Australia)

April 7, 2004 Wednesday

NEWS; Pg. 22

 Animal activist's fine 'a joke'
 AAP


FARMERS are outraged at a $140 court fine for an animal liberationist who
broke into a piggery and damaged property.

Activist Ralph Hahnheuser was fined $140, but had no conviction recorded in
the Adelaide Magistrates Court last week for his raid on a piggery east of
Adelaide.

Mr Hahnheuser, who also faces criminal charges in Victoria for allegedly
contaminating feed on a ship bound for export at Portland, admitted breaking
into a piggery.

He welded shut three stalls at the Tailem Bend piggery in January last year,
claiming the stalls were banned in many countries because of their small
size.

South Australian Farmers' Federation spokesman Rob Berlin said the court
sentence was a joke.

"This decision sends the message that you can do the wrong thing, admit
doing it, and walk away virtually scot-free," Mr Berlin said.

"Hahnheuser's illegal actions have been rewarded.

"His profile as a serial pest had earned him unwarranted publicity.

"If this is justice being served, the system appears to be seriously
flawed."

The federation would seek a meeting with SA Attorney-General Michael
Atkinson about the fine.

"It seems to set a precedent giving animal rights protesters carte blanche
to enter farming businesses, wilfully damage property and get off with a
slap on the wrist," Mr Berlin said.
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