After years of frustration and distress at seeing animals being failed by our laws and our politicians, I joined the newly-formed Animal Justice Party because of its focus on animal wellbeing and policies that seek to make a change for the better for all animals. My background is as a lawyer and a manager of social justice services, including more than 20 years working and living on the north coast.
For the past five years I have been running a volunteer animal advocacy group providing legal education and lobbying for reform of our animal welfare laws. I have met so many good people in the community who spend their time and money caring for animals that have been failed by the system. It became clear to me that our volunteer carers are at breaking point. There are just too many injured, abandoned and neglected companion animals, horses and farmed animals for volunteer services to manage. We also need to protect wildlife habitat from over-development. The West Byron development is a prime example of this issue. Restrictions must be put in place to prevent developers from reducing the habitat of endangered koalas and shorebirds that rely upon these wetlands to survive.
Top 3 issues
The AJP is concerned for the wellbeing of all animals and I am passionate about each and everyone of these policies:
Getting dogs and cats off death row:
- shut down puppy farms
- promote de-sexing programs
- assist animal shelters
- encourage responsible pet ownership
Protect Wildlife:
- cease hunting in national parks
- stop shark culls
- stop kangaroo culls
Abolish intensive factory farming:
- ban battery chicken cages, sow crates and surgical procedures without anaesthetic
- install CCTV in all slaughter-houses
- ensure NSW does not become a centre for the live export trade
- enhance police powers and responsibility to enforce animal cruelty laws
- develop an education system that teaches children to respect and interact safely with animals
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