Hundreds rally for hunger-striking farmer
Posted
Updated
Rally: Farmers are calling for a Royal Commission into vegetation laws. (ABC News : Vivienne Nunis)
More than 300 people have rallied outside Parliament House in Canberra in support of hunger-striking New South Wales farmer Peter Spencer.
Mr Spencer has spent 43 days without food on top of a tower on his property at Shannons Flat near Cooma, in protest against state laws which stop him from clearing vegetation on his land.
He wants the Commonwealth to compensate farmers whose land has been used as 'carbon sinks'.
Mr Spencer's daughter, Sarah Spencer, told the rally her father will not give up his hunger strike until he meets with Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
"He has strong resolve. He will hold true to his word," she said.
His son, Kahn Spencer, says his father has lost a lot of weight but he has not lost his mental resolve.
"He's short of energy, he hasn't got as much energy as he normally has and things like that," he said.
"But he appears to be hanging in there."
Nationals Senator Barnaby Joyce also addressed the crowd, calling for a Royal Commission into vegetation laws.
He says the state laws have robbed farmers across Australia of their assets.
"It might have been legally possible but it was totally unjust," he said.
Senator Joyce says Mr Spencer should cease his hunger strike but the fight for justice should continue.
"This is obscene," he said.
"The Government became the thief of an asset and when the Government becomes a thief of an asset - when the individual is divested of an asset without payment - there is a word for that and unfortunately without being too dramatic the word is communism."
Some of the protesting farmers are now travelling to Mr Spencer's property to offer their support.
Search ABC News
Election Live
PM Julia Gillard is holding a press conference in Perth. Watch it live on ABC News 24. Update: There were...
Electorate finder
Featured Video
-
Video
Victorian Premier John Brumby has recommended sweeping policy changes in response to the Black Saturday bushfires.
-
Video
Prime Minister Julia Gillard addresses questions at a press conference in Perth on Labor leaks, Kevin Rudd and her partner's speeding fines.
-
Video
CCTV footage shows the American teenager known as the Barefoot Bandit attempting to escape from Bahamian authorities before being arrested.
-
Video
US President Barack Obama discusses his family life and the current state of the economy on a daytime chat show.
The ABC News Online Investigative Unit encourages whistleblowers, and others with access to information they believe should be revealed for the public good, to contact us.
