Companions and Pets Party

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Companions and Pets Party
Chairperson John Hutchison
Registered19 September 2022 (2022-09-19)
Seats in the Victorian Legislative Council
0 / 40
Website
https://companionsandpetsparty.com.au/

The Companions and Pets Party is a political party registered in Victoria. Registered in 2022, chairperson John Hutchison describes the party as oppositional to "animal liberationism", and the party has been described as against the Animal Justice Party. It is currently unrepresented in the Parliament of Victoria, failing to win any seats in the Legislative Council at the 2022 state election.

Contents

History

The Companions and Pets Party was first registered as a political party in Victoria on 19 September 2022. [1] Its inaugural chair was John Hutchison, a dog breeder who has been involved in the greyhound racing industry. [2] [3] Hutchison stated to The Weekly Times in October 2022 that the party was founded to support those with pets who "don’t subscribe to the views of animal liberationism", and additionally expressed opposition to protests on farms. [2] The party has been identified as opposing the Animal Justice Party, which supports a ban on greyhound racing and advocates for animal welfare concerns. [2] [4] At the 2022 Victorian state election, the party received 0.44% of the statewide vote in the Victorian Legislative Council, and 1.3% of the vote in the sole Legislative Assembly seat it contested, the district of Nepean. [5] [6]

Although the party is unregistered in New South Wales, it ran radio ads in advance of the 2023 state election stating that the Animal Justice Party would stop pet ownership. Emma Hurst, an MP for the Animal Justice Party, described the Companions and Pets Party's advertisements as "blatant lies". [7]

According to the party's website, Hutchison is currently the party chairperson, greyhound trainer Robert Britton is the party's director, and dog show judge Craig Reid is a member of the party's board. [4] [8] Both Hutchison, Britton, and Reid were the founders of the Companions and Pets Party. [4]

Electoral history

Victorian Legislative Council
Election year# of
overall votes		% of
overall vote		# of
overall seats		+/–Ref.Notes
2022 16,4640.44
0 / 40
Steady2.svg [5] Extra-parliamentary

References

  1. ↑ "Currently registered parties". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 Sinnott, Alex (12 October 2022). "Victorian election 2022: Companions and Pets Party aims for upper house seat" . The Weekly Times . Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  3. ↑ Abbott, Lachlan (20 November 2022). "Who are the minor parties in Victoria's upper house election?" . The Age . Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 Wilson, Katherine (December 2023 – January 2024). "Dog day afternoon" . The Monthly . Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  5. 1 2 "2022 state election results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  6. ↑ "Nepean District results". Victorian Electoral Commission. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025.
  7. ↑ Demetriadi, Alexi (22 March 2023). "NSW election: Emma Hurst MP, Animal Justice Party call out 'blatant lies' in anti-party campaign" . The Daily Telegraph . Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  8. ↑ "CAP Directors". Companions and Pets Party. Archived from the original on 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
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