She scrolled through her emails while she was waiting, then flicked across to Facebook to see what was happening. Tammy had put up a photo of five protesters camped outside her front gate. They had pitched tents and been there on and off for three weeks. Sick of trying to get through this on the bus run, she’d written. Thought they’d gone but they’ve come back again.

Far out, they don’t give up, Zara thought. She enlarged the photos and tried to see if she recognised any of the faces of the protesters, but they were too blurry.

She imagined they’d be up in arms if their faces were shown, but it was okay for them to be camped outside a private residence, which happened to double as a business. Then she mentally slapped herself. If she was going to be a good journalist, she couldn’t let her feelings or opinions get in the way of writing a balanced story.

She tapped out a text to Tammy. Looking like you’ve got permanent residents down there. Do you want me to come down and write a story? I can speak to Lachy if you’re keen.

‘Zara, hi. Thanks for coming in,’ Grant Tann appeared in front of her.

‘Happy to help.’

They settled in his office and Zara took out her phone. ‘Is it okay for me to record you?’

‘Sure.’

‘So, tell me why you think the stock squad needs to be reinstated,’ she said once she’d set everything up.

‘The recent price rises in both cattle and sheep have made it very attractive for people to steal stock and on-sell it, thereby making themselves a lot of money. Recently there have been thefts of hundreds of sheep from one property. Now, Zara, this isn’t something that can happen without a lot of planning. There has to be organisation. Trucks, musterers, dogs. A place to put the stock once they’ve been stolen.’

Zara listened to him talk and made a few handwritten notes.

‘I think farmers are feeling exposed right now. There’s been reports of drones flying over farming land and—’

Zara interrupted. ‘What about the protesters who are able to sit outside farm gates? They’re not doing anything illegal because they’re on public land, but their presence is intimidating for the people who live there, let alone their children.’

‘Look, everyone has a right to feel safe in their own home. I believe this type of protest functions as harassment and there needs to be laws put in place to cover this type of protesting.’

After ten more minutes Zara wound up the interview. She had most of the story written in her head before she had left his office.

She drove home quickly, got out her computer and started to type before she lost what she wanted to say.