Animal Justice Party of Australia Animal Politics Symposium - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Animal Justice Party of Australia Animal Politics Symposium Belgrade 6-9 November, 2014 www.animaljusticeparty.org Prof Steve Garlick – President Mark Pearson – Party Secretary … a better life for all

Some things in life cause outrage & need action Belconnen Massacre - June 2008 • 514 healthy free-living kangaroos brutally slaughtered by the Federal and ACT Labor Governments. • Within sight of the flag of the national parliament with its coat of arms to make way for a local housing estate. • Alternative non-harming proposal provided, lobbying, protests, activism. • The day we gave up on The Greens, the RSPCA and all governments with regard to animal well-being. • When you live your life in the world of wild animals you cant turn away from injustice by governments toward all creatures. • … a better life for all • The day it was decided a political party for animals was needed.

Beauty & brutality of an icon

Australia’s Parliament Building and entry coat of arms

Birth of a new political party • From an idea in early 2009 • Australia’s first political party for animals was formed in 2010 and registered with the Electoral Commission in May 2011 • Registration processes in a federated system. Each state has its own requirements for party registration • From a single idea four years ago membership now 3500 & growing nationwide. Doubled in one year. … a better life for all

Some of the issues in animal cruelty & the role of governments • Kangaroos & wallabies – largest land-based slaughter of wildlife on the planet • Live trade in cattle & sheep • Factory farming  Pig sow stalls  Bobby calves  Battery hens & turkeys  Mulesing of sheep • Domestic animals  Puppy mills  Dogs & cats on death row  BSL … a better life for all

Animal cruelty & the role of governments: Live export trade … a better life for all

Party structure • National Committee of nine elected annually by voting members • State/ territory groups & committees – not elected • State/ territory liaison group • Voting members • Ordinary members … a better life for all

2013 National election • Candidates  12 candidates in 6 Senate jurisdictions  2 candidates for the lower house  9 women … a better life for all

100,000 Australians give animals their first vote in National election for the Senate September 2013

Other campaign successes • Increased awareness of animal issues in the electorate • Doubling membership to 3500 in one year • Increased attention to animal issues by some media • Some increased attention on animal issues by Greens and Labor

Future Elections • Victoria – 29 November  Standing 16 upper house candidates in 8 electorates & 9 lower house candidates in 9 electorates • New South Wales – 15 March 2015 • Queensland – June 2015 • National - September 2016 … a better life for all

Election Landscape • National level  Conservative government – borderline popular. Unpopular PM  Elections every three years (next election September 2016)  Upper house (Senate) & Lower House preferential voting system.  Two major parties and many small/ minor parties • State level  Six states & two territories – different electoral systems … a better life for all

Chances of success • Preferential system makes predictions of success difficult to judge • Lower house seat almost impossible at this stage • Upper house seats: perhaps one in Victoria and one in NSW • Achieve 4% of primary vote in an electorate to recover election costs • Increased primary vote from 100K to 250K would put AJP in top six parties nationally with 2% of national primary vote. … a better life for all

Areas where Party action needed • Money & fundraising • Social & other media exposure • Organisational efficiency in a period of rapid change • Research & analysis of animal issues & electorates • How to position the Party in the preference game versus animal values • Building left/ right alliances • Building support from animal organisations … a better life for all

A new strategy for the politics of animal well-being • Direct action outside of the electoral cycle • Climate change & environmental sustainability • Global food security – plant-based diet • Ethics as the new competition in economics • International collaboration (parties, NGOs) • International law • An ageing population & the cost of health care … a better life for all

Thank you … a better life for all