A State Government denies that proposed new laws are aimed at stopping whistleblowers and rights activists.

The South Australian Government is considering making it illegal to use any audio or video recordings which were obtained using covert means.

SA is the latest state to take up the debate, which has been prompted by Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce and other key National Party figures who say farmers’ rights are being held below those of their animals.

But groups such as the RSPCA say they rely on covertly obtained video to expose cruelty.

RSPCA CEO Tim Vasudeva says the surveillance laws are a backwards step for animal welfare.

Covert footage has been sued to expose abuses of almost every kind, revealing disturbing mistreatment at chicken and turkey farms, puppy breeders, petting zoos and most prominently – footage showing the mistreatment of Australian animals at foreign meat processing facilities led to the temporary ban on live exports to Indonesia.

A Bill before South Australia's Parliament seeks to ban the publication of any material obtained through surveillance devices, prior to a court approval.

Currently, images obtained covertly can be legally broadcast in the “public interest”, but this stipulation will be defined by a judge, if the Bill passes.

The reformed law comes with big consequences.

Media outlet, publishers or similar corporations would be fined a maximum of $75,000 for any breach, and individuals could face a $15,000 penalty or jail time.

It is reportedly part of Federal Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce’s nationwide crackdown on covert filming at farms.

He has previously stated that the exposure of animal rights abuse poses a significant threat to Australian agriculture, and supports the so-called “lock the gate” laws designed to keep activists and cameras off farms. 

The moves have prompted nationwide debate over which is more important; the personal privacy of farmers, or the importance of obtaining and publishing footage of abuse.