Australian farmers threaten to shoot down drones

Image: Day by Day 

Far left front group, the anti rural industry hate mongers at Animal Liberation, have announced that they have purchased a ‘state of the art’ drone that will be used to carry out surveillance of livestock practices by land holders.  Such a move would be marginally if at all legal, and probably only allowable by authorities turning a blind eye.

NSW Farmers Association President Fiona Simson has objected on the basis of invasion of privacy, while David Warriner of the Northern Territory Cattleman’s Association is claiming the right to shoot them down: 

FARMERS may resort to shooting down drones sent to monitor their properties for animal rights abuses, according to the head of the Northern Territory Cattlemen's Association.  Mr Warriner said farmers were doing a good job of ensuring the welfare of their animals without having their privacy invaded by drones. 

Rights group Animal Liberation has purchased a state of the art drone it says could hover as little as 10 metres above farmers' properties to monitor lovestock conditions.  But NT Cattlemen's Association head David Warriner suggested any drones could be shot down. 

“It's very dangerous and I would also say that if it's going to be within 10 metres of livestock it's going to cause a lot of disturbance, and we would certainly object to it on those two bases,” he told ABC radio.  “It wouldn't surprise me if someone had a crack at one that was annoying them. They would I reckon. 

“It wouldn't be hard to shoot a drone down with a shotgun, would it?” Mr Warriner said.NSW Farmers Association President Fiona Simson said the move was an unnecessary invasion of privacy, as farmers were already committed to high animal welfare standards.

It is difficult to imagine any reason for Animal Lib to believe that they have any right to launch such operations against farmers other than their belief that they are above and beyond the law.  Farming operations already carry a heavy burden of official scrutiny from the government as well as from consumer organizations, without the imposition of busybodies whose only standing is a direct line to 4 Corners.

This action is likely to endanger livestock by causing panic, especially among yarded animals.  The likelihood of drones approaching at ten meters height and stampeding stock under such circumstances is likely to cause death and injuries on a large scale; something landholders are careful to avoid.

Such a move is dangerous to mounted stockmen and the presence of unauthorized drones is a serious threat to helicopter operations, which are common these days.  The fact that mustering is taking place is likely to increase the probability of these idiots moving drones in, thus increasing the danger.

Landholders need to blow these things out of the sky immediately and frequently.