A headline-grabbing vegan activist has been ordered to pay $280,000 to a veterinarian she accused of “eating (her) own patients.”
Tash Peterson, who has achieved notoriety for her often scantily clad publicity stunts in support of her animal-loving cause, stormed the Perth-based Bicton Veterinary Clinic in September 2021 to accuse its owner, Dr. Kay McIntosh, of “enslaving” two pet birds. .
The strange encounter, which was filmed by Peterson’s partner Jack Higgs, was shared with the famous vegan’s 84,000 followers on Facebook.
But in a judgment handed down by the High Court of Western Australia on Monday, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan ruled the couple had used “provocative and inflammatory” language towards Dr McIntosh and her husband Andrew.
The court ordered Peterson to pay $280,000 in damages to the husband and wife.
The saga began when Peterson and his partner visited a cafe next to the veterinary clinic and noticed the two cockatoos, named Bruce and Gandalf, in a cage 60cm wide, 60cm deep and 130cm high.
Dr McIntosh had inherited the animals, believed to be around 14 years old, when she took over the business in January 2020.
The bird became a “local attraction”, with children often visiting the practice to see it and being allowed to fly out of its cage inside the clinic.
Tash Peterson (pictured), who has achieved notoriety for her often scantily clad publicity stunts in support of her animal-loving cause, burst into Perth-based Bicton Veterinary Clinic in September 2021 to accuse its owner, Dr. Kay McIntosh, of “enslaving” two pet birds
The strange encounter, which was filmed by Peterson’s partner Jack Higgs, was shared with the famous vegan’s 84,000 followers on Facebook (pictured: the veterinary clinic).
They were often left outside in their cage on the street in front of the clinic.
“Bruce and Gandalf were, however, domesticated birds,” the ruling states.
“Dr McIntosh gave evidence, which I accept, that they could not survive outside (i.e. in the wild).”
The birds were outside the store in their cage the day Peterson and Higgs first noticed them.
They briefly complained to the receptionist, but were told that the birds were well cared for.
Dissatisfied, they returned the next day with Peterson filming a piece on camera outside the clinic in which he accused them of committing “slavery.”
Peterson then entered the clinic and asked Dr McIntosh if she “eats her own patients” and accused her of “enslaving animals”, the court heard.
The exchange became heated and Paterson and Higgs were asked to leave.
During the trial in June, Peterson and Higgs had argued that the position was protected by qualified privilege and justified as honest opinion.
But in a judgment handed down by the Western Australian Supreme Court on Monday, Chief Justice Peter Quinlan ruled the couple had used “provocative and inflammatory” language towards Dr McIntosh (pictured) and her husband Andrew.
They called the police, but the couple was gone when they arrived.
Peterson later shared a clip titled ‘Exposing Veterans for Being Hypocrites’ on his Facebook page, where it racked up nearly 80,000 shares.
“Birds should not be bred to spend their entire lives enslaved living in a cage,” the accompanying caption read.
“Seeing birds in a cage is so normalized that many find it difficult to see how immoral it is.”
The video included Peterson’s bizarre claim that Dr. McIntosh “eats” the animals she treats.
During the June trial, Peterson and Higgs had argued that the position was protected by qualified privilege and justified as honest opinion.
His legal team argued that the content was a matter of public interest.
But Quinlan rejected those defenses and failed that Peterson and Higgs had published defamatory statements.
The judge was highly critical of the suggestion raised in cross-examination by the McIntoshes’ legal team that she had not paid income tax on her Onlyfans earnings.
Describing it as a ‘serious attack on Peterson’s character and credibility,” Mr. Quinlan praised Peterson as a “calm, confident and respectful witness.”
“The combined OnlyFans income reported on Ms Peterson’s and V-Gan Booty Pty Ltd’s tax returns for the year ending June 30, 2022 was therefore $383,900, a remarkably close figure. to the plaintiffs’ own estimate of $385,000,” Quilan said.
“Contrary to the suggestion made to Ms. Peterson in cross-examination, I find that all of OnlyFans’ income for that year was properly reported and accounted for.”
In a statement posted on social media, Peterson seemed unfazed by the huge bill he has been ordered to pay.
“You can take all our money, but you will NEVER take away the voice of non-human people,” he wrote on social media.
‘We will endure the stress of litigation again and again. It’s nothing compared to the abuse and murder that animals are subjected to due to non-vegans.’
In a statement posted on social media (pictured), Peterson was unfazed by the huge bill he’s been ordered to pay.
Ms. Peterson is no stranger to controversy.
Her antics have led WA police and policymakers to describe her as “Australia’s biggest pest”.
Peterson has received numerous fines for his semi-naked demonstrations and protests in designer stores, restaurants and supermarkets.
He once worked as a lifeguard at a pool before sharing racy content with Onlyfans, where he reportedly earned up to $40,000 a month.
In August, Peterson paid a high price for robbing a restaurant, prompting a brazen response from the owner.
He pleaded guilty to two counts of trespassing and disorderly conduct over two separate confrontations at the Fyre restaurant in the northern Perth suburb of Connolly last year.
Peterson was banned from leaving Western Australia due to a six-month community order issued by a magistrate at Joondalup Magistrates Court, and also received thousands of dollars in fines.