Animal Justice Party

Last updated

Animal Justice Party
AbbreviationAJP
PresidentLouise Pfeiffer
FounderSteve Garlick
Founded2009;15 years ago (2009)
HeadquartersSydney
Youth wing Young AJP [1]
Ideology Animal welfare
Vegan politics [2]
Colours  Black   red   white
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 political party in Australia founded in 2009 by Steve Garlick. [3] [4] The party was registered by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) on 3 May 2011. [5] The party is also registered in New South Wales, Queensland, [6] South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory. The AJP is the first political party in Australia formed solely to advance animal welfare issues. [7] [8]

Contents

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]

  1. "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."
  2. "Animals have their own capabilities which they should be free to realise."
  3. "Human interactions with all animals should be based on respect and compassion."
  4. "Humans have the responsibility to avoid harm to animals and the environment through their lifestyles, diets and practices."
  5. "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 Australian Broadcasting Corporation's television footage showing abuse and the slaughter of cattle from the Northern Territory in conditions that would not have been permitted in Australia, as well as the consequential nationwide protests by supporters of animal welfare, [17] AJP, along with Animals Australia, the Australasian Meat Industry Employees Union (AMIEU), The Greens and a range of other NGOs sought a ban on live animal exports. Banning live animal exports remains a core commitment on the AJP's election platform.

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 Victorian Legislative Council at the 2018 Victorian election elected Andy Meddick MLC. The AJP's second-ever Member of the Victorian Parliament, Georgie Purcell, was elected in 2022. The party also increased its primary vote over that of the 2014 Victorian election. Bruce Poon stood at the 2018 by-election for Lord Mayor of Melbourne achieving 1.63% of the vote. In 2020, the party's first ever local government representatives were elected: Charlie Vincent in the Alpine Shire and Julie Sloan in the City of Greater Bendigo. [19]

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

Legislative Council
Election year# of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
seats won
# of
overall seats
+/–Notes
2015 76,8191.8%
1 / 21
1 / 42
Increase2.svg 1
2019 86,7131.95%
1 / 21
2 / 42
Increase2.svg 1
2023 101,1832.19%
0 / 21
1 / 42
Decrease2.svg 1

Victoria

Legislative Council
Election year# of
overall votes
 % of
overall vote
# of
seats won
+/–Notes
2014 58,1331.70%
0 / 40
Steady2.svg 0
2018 88,5202.47%
1 / 40
Increase2.svg 1
2022 56,8191.45%
1 / 40
Steady2.svg 0

Elected representatives

Current

New South Wales Legislative Council

Victorian Legislative Council

Greater Bendigo City Council

  • Julie Sloan (2020–present)

Campbelltown City Council

  • Matt Stellino (2021–present)

Former

New South Wales Legislative Council

Victorian Legislative Council

Controversies

In 2017, Animal Justice Party MP, Mark Pearson was allegedly found to have eaten seafood at a Japanese restaurant located in Sydney. Pearson acknowledged that whilst he eats an "almost vegan" diet, he "strayed for that morsel [of fish]". This incident resulted in backlash from the vegan community of Sydney, particularly on their Facebook pages, where they accused Pearson of being a "traitor" and a "hypocrite". In response, Pearson asserted that "the main constituents of the party are not vegans or vegetarians" and that "We did not get elected by the vegan community." [21] Since then, the AJP has introduced rules that leaders and candidates representing the party must be vegan. [22] Notable vegan candidates include Chris Delforce, director of the documentary Dominion, [23] and James Aspey.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veganism</span> Way of living that avoids the use of animals

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products—particularly in diet—and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian Greens</span> Australian political party

The Australian Greens, commonly referred to simply as the Greens, are a confederation of green state and territory political parties in Australia. As of the 2022 federal election, the Greens are the third largest political party in Australia by vote and the fourth-largest by elected representation. The leader of the party is Adam Bandt, with Mehreen Faruqi serving as deputy leader. Larissa Waters currently holds the role of Senate leader.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party</span> Political party in Australia

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF) is a conservative Australian political party. It primarily advocates for increased funding and services for rural and regional Australia, protecting the right to farm, enhancing commercial and recreational fishing, tougher sentencing for illegal firearm trade and usage, and relaxing gun control for law abiding citizens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lee Rhiannon</span> Australian politician (born 1951)

Lee Rhiannon is a former Australian politician who was a Senator for New South Wales between July 2011 and August 2018. She was elected at the 2010 federal election, representing the Australian Greens. Prior to her election to the Federal Parliament, Rhiannon was a Greens NSW member of the New South Wales Legislative Council between 1999 and 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libertarian Party (Australia)</span> Australian political party

The Libertarian Party, formerly known as the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), is an Australian political party founded in Canberra in 2001. The party espouses smaller government and supports policies that are based on classical liberal, libertarian principles, such as lower taxes, opposing restrictions on civil liberties, decentralisation, utilising nuclear energy, and the relaxation of smoking laws.

RSPCA Australia is an Australian peak organisation established in 1981 to promote animal welfare. Each state and territory of Australia has an RSPCA organisation that predates and is affiliated with RSPCA Australia.

Robert Borsak is the leader of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF). He represents the party in the New South Wales Legislative Council. He was chosen by the Shooters and Fishers Party to fill the New South Wales Legislative Council vacancy caused by the death of Roy Smith on 30 July 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Pearson (Australian politician)</span> Australian politician

Mark Anthony Pearson is an Australian politician. He was a Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2015 until 2023, representing the Animal Justice Party. Prior to his election, Pearson served as the Executive Director, Animal Liberation based in Sydney.

Animal Liberation is a nonprofit animal rights organisation based in Sydney, founded by Christine Townend and led by current CEO Lynda Stoner. It was formed in 1976, one year after the release of Animal Liberation by Australian philosopher Peter Singer. Animal Liberation's primary campaigns are to advocate against the use of animals for food, clothing, research, sport and entertainment, by promoting a vegan lifestyle.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Derryn Hinch's Justice Party</span> Political party in Australia

Derryn Hinch's Justice Party, also known as the Justice Party, was a political party in Australia, registered for federal elections since 14 April 2016. The party was named after its founder, Derryn Hinch, an Australian media personality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Aspey</span> Australian animal rights activist and lecturer

James Aspey is an Australian animal rights activist and lecturer. He is best known for remaining silent for an entire year to raise awareness of animal cruelty.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Meddick</span> Australian politician

Andy Meddick is a former Australian politician. He was Animal Justice Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council since 2018 until 2022, representing Western Victoria Region, and was the first politician elected in Victoria on an animal protection platform.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 Victorian state election</span> Election for the 60th Parliament of Victoria

The 2022 Victorian state election was held on Saturday, 26 November 2022 to elect the 60th Parliament of Victoria. All 88 seats in the Legislative Assembly and all 40 seats in the Legislative Council were up for election at the time the writs were issued, however the election in the district of Narracan was deferred due to the death of a candidate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 New South Wales state election</span>

The 2023 New South Wales state election was held on 25 March 2023 to elect the 58th Parliament of New South Wales, including all 93 seats in the Legislative Assembly and 21 of the 42 seats in the Legislative Council. The election was conducted by the New South Wales Electoral Commission (NSWEC).

Emma Christine Hurst is an Australian politician, psychologist and vegan bodybuilder. She was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council representing the Animal Justice Party at the 2019 state election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Buttigieg</span> Australian politician and trade unionist (born 1966)

Mark Robert Buttigieg is an Australian politician and trade unionist, currently serving Parliamentary Secretary for Industrial Relations, Work Health and Safety, and Multiculturalism in the Labor Government of New South Wales. He was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council at the 2019 New South Wales state election.

<i>An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, as a Moral Duty</i> Book by Joseph Ritson

An Essay on Abstinence from Animal Food, as a Moral Duty is a book on ethical vegetarianism and animal rights written by Joseph Ritson, first published in 1802.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black veganism</span> Socio-political philosophy in the United States

Black veganism in the United States is a social and political philosophy that connects the use of non-human animals with other social justice concerns such as racism and with the lasting effects of slavery, such as the subsistence diets of enslaved people enduring as familial and cultural food traditions. Sisters Syl Ko and Aph Ko first proposed the intersectional framework for and coined the term Black veganism. The Institute for Critical Animal Studies called Black veganism an "emerging discipline".

This is a list of the candidates of the 2023 New South Wales state election, which will be held on 25 March 2023.

Georgie Purcell is an Australian politician. She is a member of the Victorian Legislative Council representing Northern Victoria since November 2022. Purcell is a member of the Animal Justice Party.

References

  1. "Young AJP". Animal Justice Party NSW. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  2. "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.
  3. "Professor Steve Garlick". www.ciwf.org.uk. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  4. "Loop | Steve Garlick". loop.frontiersin.org. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  5. Massola, James (4 May 2011). "Questions for Pakistan as Bin Laden raid details emerge". The Australian . Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  6. Electoral Commission of Queensland (6 January 2020). "Political party registrations". www.ecq.qld.gov.au. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  7. "Mark Pearson's Maiden Speech in NSW Legislative Assembly" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . 6 May 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2019.
  8. "A New Political Party FOR the Animals!". Animals Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  9. 1 2 "Our Charter – Animal Justice Party".
  10. 1 2 "Policies and Positions". Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  11. "Animal Justice Party Our Charter". Animal Justice Party. Archived from the original on 3 June 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  12. "Live Animal Exports Animal Justice Party". Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  13. "Environmental Law". Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  14. 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."
  15. "Human Diet and Animals". Animal Justice Party.
  16. 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.
  17. "Aussies march to end live cattle exports". Stuff.co.nz. 18 June 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  18. "NSW Election 2015: Animal Justice Party wins seat in NSW Upper House". ABC News. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
  19. "Councillor Julie Sloan - City of Greater Bendigo". Animal Justice Party Victoria. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  20. Abby, Ruth (2021). "'More Power to the Women': Gender and Australia's Animal Justice Party". Australian Feminist Studies. 35 (106): 405–420. doi:10.1080/08164649.2021.1924049. S2CID   235495552.
  21. 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.
  22. Rimmer, Michelle (16 May 2019). "Minor Parties: Who are they?". SBS The Feed. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  23. "Prominent animal activist takes a bid at federal Senate". ABC News. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.