Fines for trespassing on farms would double to $115,000 under Victorian biosecurity bill

Bill would see on-the-spot fines for unlawful entry on to farms increase to $2,307.72 for individuals and $11,538.60 for organisations. Photograph: Suzanne Long/Alamy

New biosecurity laws being debated in Victorian parliament could see fines double for animal activists found trespassing on farms, in a move described as “ag-gag by stealth” by critics.

This is despite the state government claiming it had created some of “the toughest punishments” for animal activists in the country less than 18 months ago.