Disclaimer: The information displayed on this website is the result of an independent review. Animal Care Australia is a registered charity and accordingly is a non-partisan organisation. Animal Care Australia does not have any commercial, financial or political affiliation with any party and the ratings of organisations/political parties, does not constitute endorsement by Animal Care Australia and is not intended to imply, directly or indirectly, that those organisations and parties endorse or have any affiliation or influence with Animal Care Australia. This information is provided purely for you to understand our interactions with each Party/member of parliament and should be used as a guide only in your considerations. A Green or Red flag DOES NOT in any way imply that you should or should not vote for that Party. The flag provides a rating of their animal welfare policies, intentions, and interactions – all of which are of course subject to change at any time.
Voting in Victoria’s State Election has changed.
For more information on all of the changes go here
Essentially Group voting tickets have been removed from Legislative Council elections.
Voting above or below the line
- When voting in state elections for the Legislative Council, also known as the upper house, you do not have to fill in all the boxes on the ballot paper.
- Voters will need to number at least 5 boxes in order of preference, either above or below the line.
- If you choose to vote above-the-line, write the number 1 to at least 5 in the boxes above the line for the parties or group you want to be elected, in order of your choice.
- If you choose to vote below-the-line, write the number 1 to at least 5 in the boxes below the line for the candidates you want to be elected, in order of your choice.
Party positions on animal welfare
Reminder: For the purpose of this page ‘Animal Welfare policies’ refers to those for pets, companion and exhibited animals only. Parties may have policies dealing with animals in the racing industry, agriculture, environment & native (wild not captive) wildlife but these sit outside of our purview. It should be noted several animal rights/protection organisations have created charts of ‘their’ policies and highlight the parties that either do or might support them. These charts are not an indication that the ‘supporting’ parties have an actual policy themselves.
Animal Care Australia has assessed each Party on the following criteria:
- The Party’s existing Policies (both online and those provided to our organisation)
- Interactions and actions during the last term of Parliament. This includes, amendments to legislation, proposed new legislation, interaction/questions during Inquiries, and general debate during question time. (You can research by going to the Hansard Transcripts and searching the appropriate ‘House’ and the Party representatives for more information)
- Working relationship with Animal Care Australia.
The Coalition (Liberal/Nationals): Even though both parties do not promote animal welfare policies, the Coalition has continually supported responsible keeping and breeding of pets while seeking to improve animal welfare, more often with methods that do not include greater restrictions on numbers or breeding capacities outside of existing legislation. They have supported pets in rental housing and appropriate amendments to animal cruelty sentencing. The Coalition has opposed all animal rights ideological based amendments, and have supported exhibited animals. The Coalition has actively sought out consultation with Animal Care Australia. Animal Care Australia has rated the Coalition a GREEN flag.
Labor Party: Even though Labor do not usually promote their animal welfare policies outside of the lead-in to an election, they have used animal welfare as the premise for introducing legislative changes, predominantly based around animal rights ideology. They no longer oppose most animal rights ideological based amendments, however they make minor amendments that water-down some of the more extreme positions proposed by the animal rights factions. Labor has a mixed bag record of seeking out consultation with Animal Care Australia. While Animal Care Australia does not oppose policies that result in improvements and advancements of animal welfare, we have been and will continue to be hesitant to endorse the proposed policies announced in the past/current term of Parliament until we are able to assess the details of the specific Act/amendments. Animal Care Australia has rated Labor a YELLOW flag – proceeding with some caution/questions awaiting further answers.
Shooters Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF): The SFF have some online policies currently cited under the banner of ‘animal rights’ – do not confuse this to mean they support animal rights – they do not. Animal Care Australia particularly appreciates their policies on opposing both animal rights and specific animal law that would effectively remove ownership of your animals. The SFF have continuously spoken out in support of pets and companion animals and your rights to own and breed them while seeking out methods to improve their welfare (albeit most of these attempts have been opposed by others). The SFF have indicated their willingness to hold the enforcement agencies accountable and will continue to call for Inquiries into the enforcement agencies and other organisations/departments. The SFF have actively sought out, responded to and appreciated all consultation with Animal Care Australia. Animal Care Australia has rated the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers a GREEN flag.
One Nation Party: One Nation does not have any online animal welfare policies. One Nation has previously opposed animal rights and ideological proposals within Parliament (where they have held seats) while supporting the keeping of pets and companion animals. One Nation has not responded to Animal Care Australia’s attempts to discuss matters of concern throughout this last term, or when seeking out their intended position for the future. Animal Care Australia has rated One Nation a GREEN flag based solely on their history of having supported the keeping of pets, opposing animal rights ideologies and supporting calls for the approved charities to be held more accountable.
NSW Greens Party: The Greens has an exhaustive list of online policies labelled as ‘animal welfare’. Some of these include, introducing an Independent Office of Animal Welfare, supporting pets on transport, and while Animal Care Australia supports the intent of those, the details of how they will be implemented remains a concern. Animal Care Australia does not support a number of their policies. These policies include restrictions, bans, and phase-outs and are animal rights policies – making this Party no different to the Animal Justice Party. Animal Care Australia has attempted to consult with the Greens and is not sought out by them for our input. Animal Care Australia has rated the NSW Greens a RED flag.
The Animal Justice Party (AJP): The AJP has an exhaustive list of animal based policies – as you would expect – however these policies are not ‘animal welfare’ – in fact, they often refer to them as ‘animal protection’. To be clear – animal protection IS NOT animal welfare! Animal Care Australia has worked with and supported the AJP in their endeavours to have pets allowed in rental housing, to see greater bans on animals left in vehicles on hot days, and changes to legislation surrounding bestiality and crush video content. Animal Care Australia does support the intent of their Veticare policies however, there is still little detail available as to how it would be structured, funded, who would be eligible and what impact it would have on the veterinary industry. Animal Care Australia supports the AJP’s policies for pets in residential tenancies, on public transport and in public places. Animal Care Australia does not support policies based on animal rights ideology, and not scientifically supported, particularly to abolish the property status of animals; reframe companion animals as individuals, and work towards a definition of personhood to replace the current property status of animals; establish an Independent Office of Animal Protection, and a Minister for Animal Protection; advocate for an international treaty on animal rights. Animal Care Australia has rated the Animal Justice Party a RED flag.
Libertarian Party: This Party again does not actively promote animal welfare policies. Animal Care Australia has consulted with NSW members of this Party and found them to be supportive. Animal Care Australia rated the Libertarian Party a GREEN/YELLOW flag based solely on our limited interactions and consultations.
INDEPENDENTS: Animal Care Australia has continually consulted with various Independents and while not all of those have responded, Animal Care Australia appreciates their impact when dealing with ‘Houses’ that have close voting or ‘hung parliaments’. As each Independent is individual Animal Care Australia is not in a position to provide an analysis of their intentions when it comes to animal welfare or animal rights.
It should be noted: Animal Care Australia is not opposed to an Office of Animal Welfare or a Minister for Animal Welfare but these must include initiatives that result in the improvement of animal welfare outcomes and not animal rights ideologies and the employment of an animal welfare inspectorate that reports directly to a Chief Animal Welfare Officer/CEO. The Chief Animal Welfare Officer/CEO, and Minister for Animal Welfare must be held accountable to Parliament and therefore to the people.
