Animal Justice Party

Animal Justice Party
President	Steve Garlick
Founded	2009
Headquarters	Blakehurst, New South Wales, Australia
Ideology	Animal rights advocacy
Colours	Brown
House of Representatives	0 / 150
Senate	0 / 76
NSW Legislative Council	1 / 42
Website
www.animaljusticeparty.org
Politics of Australia Political parties Elections

Animal Justice Party (AJP) is a political party in Australia representing an animal rights perspective in the Australian political arena. On 3 May 2011, the Animal Justice Party was approved by the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) and AJP was federally registered as a political party under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918, making the party eligible for federal funding.^[1][2] AJP is the first political party in Australia formed to advance animal rights issues.^[3]

Goals

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 promote and protect the interests and capabilities of animals by providing a dedicated voice for them in Australia’s political system." The party aims to give animals constitutional protection based on their sentience, as opposed to their instrumental value.^[4] The party's mission is "To promote and protect the interests and capabilities of animals by providing a dedicated voice for them in Australia’s political system."^[5] The soul purpose of the AJP is to provide a focal point for people who feel there is a lack of action taken by political figures that concerns the well being of animals.

The AJP position

The AJP is highly against the export of any live animals for profit, especially slaughter. They want an international ban of all live animal hauling throughout the world. "We demand an end to the export of live animals from Australia at the earliest possible time, taking into consideration any domestic welfare issues exceeding those faced overseas, that the animals previously earmarked for live export would suffer in the event of a ban" says Steve Garlick, president of AJP. The group realizes that their government will not put a ban on the live animal export because it brings in so much money for the country even though countless instances of cruelty have been blatantly proven. The exported animals usually go to countries that have no animal welfare laws or protection codes that ensure their protection and well being.

Policies

The Animal Justice Party aims to implement "laws and processes which recognise animals' needs and capabilities and which protect their interests".^[6] Policies include:

• Ban the felling of trees in residential areas, except where efforts are made to rehouse animal inhabitants.^[7]
• Ban the killing of wildlife for any purpose except euthanasia, with particular emphasis on dingoes, kangaroos, and other native animals.^[8][9][10]
• Ban the shooting of feral horses (Brumbies) for the purpose of population control.^[11]
• Ban the use of animals in entertainment,^[12] including greyhound racing,^[13] horse racing,^[14] and circuses.^[15]
• Ban the use of animals in scientific experimentation, except where the animal benefits.^[16]
• Ban the use of barbed wire and electrified fencing in rural areas, to prevent harm to native wildlife.^[17]
• Ban the use of "riparian zones" (river banks) for economic activity.^[18]
• Enshrine animal rights in law, abolishing the status of animals as property.^[19]
• Establish a "positive duty of care" for human–animal interactions, including the provision of food, water, and shelter, and the avoidance of conditions promoting "mental suffering".^[20]
• Establish animal-specific overpasses and underpasses for the prevention of roadkill.^[21]
• Phase out the use of natural gas for energy production (within 10–15 years).^[22]
• Protect the interests of "companion animals" (pets), including banning the sale of cats and dogs.^[23]
• Restrict the transport of live animals within Australia,^[20] and ban the export of live animals from Australia (for all commercial purposes). ^[24]
• Protect the rights of introduced animals ^[15]
• Reduce agricultural emissions through reforestation and development of carbon sequestration(carbon capture).

History

In 2011, in the light of 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,^[25] 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. Steve Garlick, president of the Animal Justice Party, said that rural Australia has been adversely affected by the export of live animals and argued that the export ban would result in economic and social benefit in the country.^[25][26]

At the 2013 federal election, the party was criticised for preferencing the Liberal Party ahead of the Greens in the ACT Senate. They did this because the Greens had supported the culling of kangaroos in the ACT. This preferencing decision had no impact on the result.^[27] The party was a member of Glenn Druery's Minor Party Alliance but failed to win a seat.^[28][29]

Mark Pearson, the lead candidate of the Animal Justice Party won the final seat in the New South Wales Legislative Council at the 2015 state election, giving the party its first parliamentary representation.^[30]

See also

• List of animal advocacy parties
• List of political parties in Australia

References

1. Massola, James (4 May 2011). "Questions for Pakistan as Bin Laden raid details emerge". The Australian. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
2. "Application for party registration approved - Animal Justice Party". Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
3. "A New Political Party FOR the Animals!". Animals Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
4. "Animal Justice Party - Our Charter". Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
5. http://animaljusticeparty.org/about/charter/
6. Our Charter – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
7. Native Birds – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
8. Dingo – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
9. Kangaroos – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
10. Wildlife Welfare – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
11. Brumbies – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
12. Animals in Entertainment – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
13. Greyhound racing – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
14. Jumps Racing – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
15. Introduced Animals – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
16. Animal Experimentation – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
17. Bats & Flying Foxes – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
18. Wombats – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
19. Animal Law – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
20. Farming – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
21. Koalas – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
22. Natural Gas – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
23. Companion Animals – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
24. Live Animal Exports – Animal Justice Party. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
25. "Aussies march to end live cattle exports". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
26. Jeanes, Tim (21 July 2011). "Animal lobby and meatworkers united against live exports". ABC News. Retrieved 14 February 2011.
27. "I'll say sorry to Jakarta for cattle ban: Tony Abbott". The Australian. 10 May 2013.
28. Bitter dispute erupts over Senate preferences in Queensland: ABC 5 September 2013
29. Alliance of micro parties boosts odds for likes of One Nation or Shooters and Fishers gaining Senate spot through preferences: Daily Telegraph 5 September 2013
30. "NSW Election 2015: Animal Justice Party wins seat in NSW Upper House". ABC News. 17 April 2015. Retrieved 17 April 2015.

External links

• Official website
• Animal Justice Party (Australian Electoral Commission)