Nationals leader Michael McCormack has come out swinging against "extremist" animal activists, accusing them of risking economic devastation to suit a vegan agenda.
The deputy prime minister launched a blistering assault on Aussie Farms, the animal rights group behind an online map of farmers' locations and contact details aimed at raising awareness of exploitation.
Senior Nationals have joined the National Farmers' Federation in calling for the group's charity status to be stripped and their Facebook page to be shut down.
But the activists are holding firm, arguing they want the public to have as much information as possible about potential cruelty in agriculture.
Mr McCormack said Australian farmers deserved respect rather than suffering "ongoing moral harassment" and vilification from a vegan-driven "extremist" campaign.
"Those responsible for publishing private details and information of farmers on the internet - to try to identify Australian farming operations as part of an animal rights campaign aimed at banning and demonising livestock farming - should be ashamed of themselves," he said.
He joined Agriculture Minister David Littleproud in warning of potentially disastrous impacts of biosecurity risks stemming from activists forcing their way onto farms.
"This type of needless economic devastation, due to the ignorant actions of animal rights activists, is the last thing Australian farmers need - especially those battling escalating drought conditions," the Nationals leader said.
He said farmers could face increased business costs like security, which may drive up food prices, as they battled anonymous activists.
"They've probably never worked a hard day in their life. They don't understand where their food and fibre comes from," Mr McCormack said.
"The actions of Aussie Farms and these people prepared to pay cash for cruelty are un-Australian."
The verbal assault came after Mr Littleproud called for state and territory governments to look at beefing up trespass laws to deter activists.
"There are plenty of nutters out there and who knows what one of them will do," the agriculture minister said.
Aussie Farms founder Chris Delforce has insisted the group is peaceful and has no intention of entering farmers' homes.
"I believe people have the right to see what modern farming looks like," Mr Delforce said earlier in the week
Australian Associated Press
