Bull killing shows need for rural crime crackdown

“The killing and attempted butchering of a $10,000 breeding bull in Northland shows why rural crime needs a dedicated response,” says ACT Agriculture spokesperson Andrew Hoggard.

“Whoever did this was brazen enough to enter a farm with a firearm and start cutting up a 900kg bull in its paddock.

“Federated Farmers’ latest Rural Crime Survey found 67 per cent of farmers had experienced crime, up from 41 per cent in 2016. Too many rural criminals assume the nearest police car is miles away and nobody is coming.

“ACT will change that. We will fund 100,000 extra Police patrol hours in rural areas every year and establish a dedicated rural crime unit.

“We will also strengthen offences and increase penalties for livestock rustling and armed poaching. People who go onto farms with guns to kill or steal stock should face severe consequences.

“Farmers work hard to build their herds and their businesses. ACT will put Police back on the rural beat and the law firmly on the farmer’s side.”