Prime Minister Scott Morrison has lashed out at the "shameful, un-Australian" protesters who targeted abattoirs on Monday morning, including at Goulburn.
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Mr Morrison said the Commonwealth was prepared to join or bankroll a civil lawsuit brought by any affected farmers against the activists.
"I think state and territory governments should ensure the full force of the law is brought against these green-collared criminals," Mr Morrison told reporters on Monday.
"If there are pastoralists, farmers, graziers that are in a position to bring a civil action against these groups ... the Commonwealth is totally open to supporting them in a test case [against] these green criminals."
The protests follow the release of the Dominion movement's Aussie Farms Map, which details farmers' addresses and contact details and the locations of animal-processing plants across the country.
The Morrison government has put the Aussie Farms website under privacy laws, exposing it to much tougher penalties for refusing to take down the map.
Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud called on the group to take down their "attack map" after one business listed was broken into.
"If this activist attack map remains online, I fear someone will be seriously hurt or worse," he said.
At the Goulburn slaughterhouse, nine activists said they had locked themselves in the factory since 2am to shine a light on what they said was the "oxymoron of humane slaughter".
NSW Police said nine people had been arrested at Goulburn after the owner of the abattoir asked the protesters to leave about 4am, but they allegedly refused.
"Goulburn police rescue cut the people free and arrested them at the scene," a spokesperson said. "Three women refused to walk from the abattoir and had to be carried to the police vehicle."
Three men, one aged 46 and two aged 22, and six women, aged between 21 and 61 were due to be charged at the Goulburn police station.
Activists have also let down truck tyres to block entrances and exits at three locations across Victoria, including MC Herd at Geelong, Westside Meats at Bacchus Marsh, and O'Connor Beef at Pakenham.
With Michael Koziol, SMH/Age AAP