Animal Justice Party
Animal Justice Party | ||
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NSW Legislative Council 1 / 42 | ||
Victorian Legislative Council | 1 / 40 | |
Greater Bendigo City Council | 1 / 9 | |
Campbelltown City Council | 1 / 15 | |
Swan City Council | 1 / 15 | |
Website | ||
www.animaljusticeparty.org | ||
The Animal Justice Party (AJP) is a
Policies and philosophy
The preamble of the AJP charter says the party "has been formed as a response to growing public concern about the neglect of animals and animal protection issues by political parties" and states its mission is to "secure the interests of animals and nature through Australia’s democratic institutions of government".[9] The AJP's vision is a "planet on which animals and nature have the right to live and thrive free from negative human interference and a human society which functions with kindness and compassion within its ecological limits as a responsible member of the Earth community." The ideology of the party has five guiding principles:[9]
- "Each animal is the experiencing subject of a life. Animals and the natural environment should be respected for their own sake, not merely for their instrumental values."
- "Animals have their own capabilities which they should be free to realise."
- "Human interactions with all animals should be based on respect and compassion."
- "Humans have the responsibility to avoid harm to animals and the environment through their lifestyles, diets and practices."
- "Policies of other political parties, both nationally and internationally, that advance Animal Justice Party principles will be supported."
It has more than 50 published policies under the categories "Animals", "Environment" and "Humans".[10] The party aims to give animals constitutional protection based on their sentience, as opposed to their instrumental value.[11] The AJP opposes the export of any live animals for profit, especially slaughter.[12] The AJP aims to legally recognise the inherent Rights of Nature.[13] The party also opposes the eating of meat, and advocates a plant-based diet.[14][15] Additionally, the AJP has 'positions' which are stances on human social issues that do not affect animals and which the AJP says flow clearly from its core values: Kindness, Equality, Rationality and Non-violence.[10]
The party advocates for the abolition of factory farming, greyhound racing and the live export trade. The party also advocates for the termination of government funding for all animal product industries and for the advertising of animal products to be banned.[16]
History
In 2011, following the
At the 2015 New South Wales election, Mark Pearson gained 1.8% of the primary vote and won a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Council, giving the party its first parliamentary representation.[18] At the 2019 New South Wales election the AJP increased its primary vote to 1.95% of the state total and winning a second seat filled by Emma Hurst MLC.
The AJP won its first seat in the
Composition
A 2021 qualitative study into the AJP interviewed members about the role of women in the party.[20] The researcher found that more than 70% of AJP members are women, far higher than other Australian political parties, and that "men [in the party] have a heightened awareness of any gender gap in leadership." Other findings included: greater opportunities for women to run for elected office, that women seize leadership opportunities, and that the gender of candidates mirrors the gender composition of the membership.
Electoral results
New South Wales
Election year | # of overall votes |
% of overall vote |
# of seats won |
# of overall seats |
+/– | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2015 | 76,819 | 1.8% | 1 / 21
|
1 / 42
|
1 | |
2019 | 86,713 | 1.95% | 1 / 21
|
2 / 42
|
1 | |
2023 | 101,183 | 2.19% | 0 / 21
|
1 / 42
|
1 |
Victoria
Election year | # of overall votes |
% of overall vote |
# of seats won |
+/– | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 58,133 | 1.70% | 0 / 40
|
0 | |
2018 | 88,520 | 2.47% | 1 / 40
|
1 | |
2022 | 56,819 | 1.45% | 1 / 40
|
0 |
Elected representatives
Current
New South Wales Legislative Council
- Emma Hurst (2019–present)
Victorian Legislative Council
- Georgie Purcell (2022–present)
Greater Bendigo City Council
- Julie Sloan (2020–present)
Campbelltown City Council
- Matt Stellino (2021–present)
Former
New South Wales Legislative Council
- Mark Pearson (2015–2023)
Victorian Legislative Council
- Andy Meddick (2018–2022)
Controversies
In 2017, Animal Justice Party MP,
See also
- Cultured meat
- List of animal advocacy parties
- List of political parties in Australia
- Veganism
- Vegetarianism
References
- ^ "Young AJP". Animal Justice Party NSW. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
- ^ "Meet the refugee turned hip-hop artist vying for your vote". SBS News.
One thing all AJP candidates have in common is they must be vegan or transitioning to veganism.
- ^ "Professor Steve Garlick". www.ciwf.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ "Loop | Steve Garlick". loop.frontiersin.org. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
- ^ Massola, James (4 May 2011). "Questions for Pakistan as Bin Laden raid details emerge". The Australian. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ Electoral Commission of Queensland (6 January 2020). "Political party registrations". www.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
- ^ "Mark Pearson's Maiden Speech in NSW Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 6 May 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
- ^ "A New Political Party FOR the Animals!". Animals Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ a b "Our Charter – Animal Justice Party".
- ^ a b "Policies and Positions". Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Animal Justice Party Our Charter". Animal Justice Party. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "Live Animal Exports Animal Justice Party". Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
- ^ "Environmental Law". Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ Nicholls, Sean (10 April 2017). "Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson admits: 'I strayed ... for that morsel'". The Sydney Morning Herald.
The AJP policy on marine animals states: "Eating fish, whether farmed or wild, is incompatible with AJP's advocacy of a plant-based diet."
- ^ "Human Diet and Animals". Animal Justice Party.
- ^ Carey, Adam (11 December 2018). "Party in the upper house: Who's who on new Victorian crossbench". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 September 2020.
- Stuff.co.nz. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
- ^ "NSW Election 2015: Animal Justice Party wins seat in NSW Upper House". ABC News. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ "Councillor Julie Sloan - City of Greater Bendigo". Animal Justice Party Victoria. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- S2CID 235495552.
- ^ Nicholls, Sean (10 April 2017). "Animal Justice Party MP Mark Pearson admits: 'I strayed ... for that morsel'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 3 October 2021.
- ^ Rimmer, Michelle (16 May 2019). "Minor Parties: Who are they?". SBS The Feed. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ "Prominent animal activist takes a bid at federal Senate". ABC News. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
External links
- Official website
- Current register of political parties (Australian Electoral Commission)