The Victorian Farmers Federation is calling for fines of up to $400,000 for animal activists who trespass on Victorian farms.
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President David Jochinke presented at the Inquiry into the Impact of Animal Rights Activism on Monday asking for the penalties to be strengthened to $220,000 for individuals, $400,000 for organisations and $1000 on-the-spot fines.
VFF North East councillor Peter Star said current laws are only giving activists "a slap on the wrist".
"The reality is they are farms, they aren't just the workplace, they are our homes as well," he said.
"In the general public there are laws against home invasion and we just want the same to apply to our farms.
"Locally people are worried about activists being able to come back without fear of the penalty.
"That is why the VFF is calling for tougher penalties against the invasion of our properties."
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Mr Jochinke said the purpose of the inquiry is to determine if current laws are effective in preventing and deterring activists from trespassing on farms.
"How could they be effective when the courts are handing out such pitiful penalties?" he said.
"By their own admission, activists willfully defy the law without fear of consequences.
"They continue to invade family farms and even repeatedly attack the same farm over a series of weeks.
"Tougher laws are required because trespass on farm properties presents particular risks that do not exist in other workplaces such as risks to personal safety, animal welfare, biosecurity and public health.
"Most importantly, farm trespass is akin to home invasion. Farms are not only a place of work, but are the homes of our farming families.
"After hearing the shocking stories of farming families harassed by activists, I hope Parliament will have no doubt in their minds - we need tougher laws to protect our farming families and deter invaders."
Representatives from Victoria Police, Agriculture Victoria and the United Dairy Farmers of Victoria also spoke at the hearing on Monday.
As part of the inquiry, the committee is considering workplace health and safety and biosecurity risks, as well as the civil or criminal liability of those who promote or organise participation in unauthorised animal activism activities.
Public hearings have already been held in Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Warragul, Warrnambool and Horsham, with 491 submissions received, and a north east hearing is expected to be held in Wangaratta in the next two weeks.
