It’s Federal election time again.
And that means that we are going to be bombarded with a heap of rhetoric from political hopefuls trying to convince us to vote for them.
Fresh off their recent wins in Victoria and New South Wales, the Animal Justice Party are doing their best to convince us that they are no longer a single issue party.
Has their position on anything actually changed, or are they still the same as they were when they were formed?
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Still, Have A “Some” “Animals First” Position
For all their talk of being a party that we should vote for, they haven’t got past their some “animals first” position.
The policies they do have are token ones and don’t do anything to address the issue itself.
We are supposed to believe that if a bill comes up where the Animal Justice Party doesn’t have a policy, that the member will be able to vote based on their claimed values of kindness, equality, rationality, and non-violence.
Still Confused
Despite the party being 10 years old, they will still claim that they are a young party, and use this as an excuse for not understanding what level of government can do what.
For example, during the recent NSW general election campaign, Mark Pearson promised, that if Emma Hurst was elected into the upper house, that they would propose a bill to ban live export in NSW.
This is despite live export being a federal matter, and Mark Pearson knowing that live export ships don’t leave from NSW due to the harbour being too shallow. (Check Hansard if you don’t believe me).
Queensland’s Senate candidates have all made comments about things that fall under the jurisdiction of the Queensland government, and aren’t a federal matter.
Then there is a recent post that appeared on their facebook page that included things for all three levels of government.
Don’t Actually Have Any Policies
In a recent facebook live broadcast, Renee Stewart, candidate for McPherson was asked about the Animal Justice Party’s policy to transition those in animal agriculture away from the industry.
Sadly, she failed this one miserably by making a passing comment about black sesame seeds, and that was it.
(Thankfully, the Australian Vegan Party has laid out their plans here).
We have seen other candidates talk about sovereign wealth funds, and that was about it. No indication on how it would be funded, how it would be managed or anything.
“The Environment”
Their latest catchphrase is the environment.
They use it like it is going out of fashion.
And, just like everything else they talk about, there is very little substance in what they say.
Nothing is laid out or explained.
With most of the environmental aims being the responsibility of the states, I am scratching my head as to how a federal candidate can achieve them.
Aren’t An “Animal Rights” Party
Listening to the facebook live event with Renee, the animal rights in law slogan was used ad nauseam.
And, they still haven’t said what the animal rights in law will be.
Which goes against a recent Facebook comment by National vice president Katrina Love who said the party was an “animal protection party”.
Yes, their charter does say they want constitutional recognition for animals, though that will be generations away, if at all.
And, making it more embarrassing for the Animal Justice Party is that the Commonwealth has no constitutional authority to pass laws relating to rights for other animals in the first place.
Then there is the issue of almost all of the candidates using an animal as a prop in their promo pictures.
What About What They Do Have?
If you check out their 2019 Federal Election landing page, you will see they make a claim about “How your vote will help animals”.
Is there any truth to it, or are they relying on the political naivety of their supporters?
Ban Live Export
Yes. This can be done. This is due to the export of goods being something that the Commonwealth has the constitutional authority to pass laws on.
Safeguard our National Emblem
It is highly likely that this cannot be done.
The states have constitutional authority to pass laws relating to animals, and kangaroos fall under their jurisdiction.
For example, in Qld, macropod harvesting is controlled by the Nature Conservation Act 1992 and associated regulations.
What this means is that the Commonwealth isn’t able to pass laws relating to safeguarding kangaroos, without a long drawn out and expensive high court challenge.
Combat the Climate Emergency
We will legislate to protect forests and marine habitats from further destruction and invest in clean energy and in a transition from animal agriculture to plant-based agriculture.
Protection of forest and coastal marine areas fall under state legislation.
(From the low water mark out to 3 nautical miles (5.55km) is State/Territory controlled. The Commonwealth controls from there, out to 12 nautical miles (22.2km))
Energy production is the responsibility of the States/Territories.
And the same goes for animal agriculture farms.
Protect Wildlife Habitats
Land clearing is an animal welfare disaster, displacing and killing huge numbers of wildlife. We will introduce laws to protect wildlife habitats.
See above.
End Factory Farming
Factory farming causes immense animal suffering. We will fight for a rapid phase out of battery hen cages and sow stalls.
Again, the Commonwealth has no constitutional authority to pass laws relating to animal agriculture.
Establish a Federal Animal Rights Commission
Animals have unique rights which should be protected by law. We will establish a legal system for animals which protects their right to live free from human harm.
How they will do this is not explained.
They have also failed to explain how they will get past the lack of constitutional authority to pass laws relating to animals.
(With the “commission” only being concerned with how animals are treated, it is technically an animal welfare commission).
Best Of A Bad Bunch
Yes, there is the view that the Animal Justice Party is the best of a bad bunch.
Though, that shouldn’t stop people from doing their own due diligence on who best to represent their electorate.
Don’t simply vote for them because you have been lied to and told you can’t be vegan if you don’t.
Image source: Facebook
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This article was written by the founder of VeganPolice.com.au, Cameron Blewett.
Cameron is a long term vegan (30+yrs), and is passionate about veganism, and helping people to understand more about it and giving other animals equal consideration.
You can find Cameron’s other rants on his website, CameronBlewett.blog