Trespassing on farming land was a hot topic last year, which resulted in the state government amending the Summary Offences Act 1953 to include tougher penalties for trespassers.
The issue has come back into the spotlight to a degree, with a 22 year old Qld woman convicted by the Toowoomba Magistrates Court after pleading guilty to trespass offences arising from entering a piggery and poultry farm without approval. In addition to having a conviction recorded, she was ordered to complete 50 hours of community service.
It will be interesting to see how the courts in SA deal with farm trespass in the future, given the potential penalties are now significant.
The changes to the Summary Offences Act 1953 made it a specific offence when a person trespasses onto primary production land (as opposed to land more generally).
