Farm murders 'downplayed'

REPORT: NO SPECIAL CLASS, BUT ‘EXTREME BRUTALITY’

- Jarryd Westerdale

A parliamentary report into farm murders has found that while "no perception should be created that farm murders constitute a special class of crime", it should be acknowledged that farm attacks feature "extreme brutality and excessive, disproportionate violence".

The report was the result of a petition by civil society groups, that asked for an investigation into attacks on the farming community and its economic impact.

However, not all parliamentarians were happy with the findings, with one party saying the report did not address the key concerns facing farmers.

The report followed a petition by PPS Stop Farm Killings and Agri-Alert SA.