Read more about AJP's policies and positions here.

The Ten Point Plan for a Kinder Queensland is a collaborative, grassroots effort of Animal Justice Party members in applying the core values and national policies of the party to issues we are facing today in Queensland. The Plan is a blueprint for our candidates: once elected to the Legislative Assembly, to help improve the lives of animals and is endorsed by the Animal Justice Party. These issues have been selected and prioritised by Queensland members but reflect only a portion of the party’s national policies and, regrettably, can only address a fraction of the harms done to animals and nature. For other animal and environmental issues not in this document, please refer to the national policies available on our website. The Animal Justice Party also has position statements concerning issues related solely to human political/social concerns, which are available on our website. Our members and candidates are further guided by the party’s four core values: Kindness, Equality, Rationality and Nonviolence.

1. Declare a climate emergency and biodiversity emergency
2. Invest in an ethical economy and a healthy population
3. Protect marine life, oceans and our iconic beaches
4. Restore the natural world
5. Support the hard work of wildlife rescue volunteers
6. Extend legal personhood to animals and nature
7. Crack down on animal cruelty
8. Free animals from the ‘entertainment’ industry
9. Provide loving homes for companion animals
10. Promote AJP’s core values of Kindness, Equality, Rationality and Nonviolence

1. Declare a climate emergency and biodiversity emergency

The Animal Justice Party (AJP) recognises that Australia is in the midst of a climate and biodiversity crisis. The AJP is the only party with a plan to tackle ALL of the main causes of high risk climate change. We seek to prioritise actions that will address the underlying causes. With Queensland responsible for at least 26.75% of national greenhouse gas emissions, we need to address the industries and their work practices that are the major drivers of climate change. These include intensive cattle and sheep farming, the extraction and use of fossil fuels and their associated land clearing practices. We will use our position within Parliament to support existing efforts to transition away from these industries and towards more sustainable alternatives and examine new initiatives that are being taken to address the crises both domestically and globally.. 

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Animal Justice Party MPs will use their position in Parliament to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency in Queensland and will work with all political, government and community stakeholders to fix these crises.
2. Introduce a moratorium on all land clearing activities relating to animal agriculture, which presently account for more than 85% of Queensland’s land clearing.
3. Support the Queensland Government to achieve its goal of zero net emissions by 2050, bringing this forward if possible.
4. Complete a 100% transition to clean renewable energy by 2035.
5. Diversify Queensland exports and end coal mining by 2030.
6. Add ‘transitioning away from animal agriculture’ as a key part of the Queensland Climate Transition Strategy, which is presently missing. Animal agriculture (intensive grazing and factory farming) is a primary driver of climate change and land clearing. End intensive animal farming and assist farmers in transitioning to more sustainable and lucrative plant based business.  
7. Boost funds for the Government’s Queensland Carbon Plus Fund and set a target to regenerate 25% of lost tree cover by8 2060, with the main beneficiaries being Traditional Owners and rural landholders including former graziers and pastoralists.
8. Investigate better climate disaster management, with a view to explore options for traditional fire management techniques and better prepare people and nature for future disasters. More must be done to assist wildlife during these disasters (see Point #5- Support the hard work of wildlife rescue volunteers).

2. Invest in an ethical economy and a healthy population

AJP will encourage the Government to provide support into the research and development of innovative practices that will lower the costs of production for farmer whilst providing meaningful employment for Queensland families.

The AJP supports investing in an ethical economy and promoting a healthy population by backing Queensland’s farming industry. The state’s small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are crucial for producing 90% of Australia’s winter fruit and vegetables, ensuring food security and local employment. The AJP will push for government funding in research and development to reduce production costs and enhance job creation for Queensland families.

In parallel, the AJP advocates for educational initiatives that emphasise the health benefits of a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts, and seeds, alongside regular exercise. These efforts aim to improve public health and prevent chronic illnesses.

Moreover, the AJP acknowledges the global shift towards plant-based meats and its economic potential. With projections indicating significant growth in this sector, the AJP encourages Queensland to lead in plant-based food production. This aligns with investing in a sustainable, ethical economy while supporting a healthier population.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Review government grants and concessions to shift funding from less sustainable enterprises to drought-resistant horticulture and attract research investment to Queensland.
   
   
2. Create a Queensland Farming Future Fund to facilitate the “transfarmation” (transformation of farms) from unsustainable animal agriculture to carbon farming and horticulture, support reskilling workers, and expand export opportunities.
   
   
3. Encourage greater emphasis on plant-based protein alternatives and their health benefits in existing school curriculums.
   
   
4. Encourage all government events and institutions to offer healthy, climate-friendly plant-based food, and expand the Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy in schools by increasing plant-based options, removing processed meats, and including education on animal rights and non-cruelty.
   
   
5. Partner with media, supermarkets, and sports organisations to promote community initiatives like annual exercise challenges, meatless Mondays, and “Veganuary” month.
   
   
6. Call for an inquiry into the links between pandemics and intensive animal agriculture, increasing transparency about industry practices to reduce biosecurity risks and prevent future pandemics.

3. Protect marine life, oceans and our iconic beaches

The Animal Justice Party values healthy marine ecosystems and is dedicated to protecting marine life and ocean environments. We advocate for stronger action from the Queensland Government to combat plastic pollution and address the harm  done by the government’s war on sharks.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Develop educational programs to highlight the importance of marine life, promote safe behaviour around them, and raise awareness of their role in marine ecosystems. Additionally, educate the public on the pain perception of all marine life, including fish and crustaceans, and review the impact of commercial and recreational fishing on marine habitats and species, aiming to phase out harmful fishing practices.
2. Replace lethal shark nets and drumlines with non-lethal alternatives such as dedicated shark spotters and drones. The number of marine animals killed by Queensland’s shark nets is in the tens of thousands and in 2023 alone, Queensland’s Shark Control Program killed 722 marine animals. Of the 614 non-target species caught, only 30% were released alive. Non-target species in 2023 included 2 dugongs, 12 dolphins (9 dead), 38 turtles (5 dead), 11 humpback whales, and 82 protected wildlife (29 dead).

1. Lobby the government to establish grants for NGOs that help landholders adopt improved land management practices, enhance water quality, and reduce sediment loss. This support will aim to minimise harmful runoff, including effluent, sediment, and pesticides, which damages reefs, marine ecosystems, and beaches. By improving farming practices, we can better protect these vital environments.

1. Cease the removal of reef fish and live corals from the Great Barrier Reef for the aquarium trade, in order to prioritise reef health and species biodiversity.

1. Support and extend the ban on single-use plastics, invest in biodegradable products, and tax the littering of discarded fishing nets to reduce marine pollution. Additionally, facilitate community clean-up efforts to address the impacts of marine debris and plastic pollution.

1. Mitigate shipping traffic at export ports and the associated impacts on marine life and ocean ecosystems by phasing out fossil fuel production and live animal exports.

1. Redirect all current funding associated with port expansion for fossil fuel and live animal exports to the development of clean energy and plant-based agriculture. Expansion involves huge dredging operations and dumping of the dredge spoil at sea.

4. Restore the natural world

The Animal Justice Party advocates for the restoration of the natural world. We  support the urgent and necessary transition towards plant-based agricultural systems to reduce green-house gas emissions, land and water degradation, deforestation and biodiversity loss.

Present day conservation efforts and environmental laws are weak, merely limiting the amount of damage we, as a species, inflict on nature. To survive, we must not only stop environmental destruction but undo it through rehabilitation. When we restore ecosystems we also help people by improving resistance to disease and drought; improving soil quality; and ensuring vital food security. Animal agriculture is a leading driver of environmental harms.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Strengthen the Vegetation Management Act 1999 by prohibiting clearing of native remnant vegetation and significant regrowth for the purpose of animal agriculture, which is the cause of over 90% of Queensland’s clearing. We will remove exemptions that continue to permit land clearing.
   
   
2. Provide greater incentives to landholders for maintaining, protecting, enhancing and regenerating native vegetation.
   
   
3. Develop agreements with landholders to rewild agricultural land with natural processes that will result in landscapes that feature increased biodiversity, water quality and soil structure as well as balanced animal populations.
   
   
4. Amend state town planning legislation to end destructive urban sprawl and actively shrink our urban footprint with renewed focus on public transport and liveable cities.
   
   
5. Review and update the Environmental Offsets Act 2014 to include the welfare of animals by mandating that suitable homes be available prior to developers destroying crucial habitat.
6. Amend the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 (Qld) to extend the duty of care towards animals to include a landholder being responsible for the welfare of animals on their property during all land use changes, e.g. construction.
   
   
7. Develop a ‘green belt’ and ‘wildlife corridor’ fund to purchase and rehabilitate land crucial to reconnecting urban animal populations currently separated by human activity.
   
   
8. Increase potential habitat for terrestrial threatened species from 11% to 30% by 2030. 

1. Legislate minimum targets for local councils to protect and rehabilitate land within their borders.
   
   
2. Work with industry and local councils to increase Queensland’s recycling rates from below 50% to over 75% by 2025. Urban businesses and local councils will be required to participate in recycling and reusing products. Innovation and jobs across many sectors can contribute to active recycling, repurposing, remaking of goods.

5. Support the hard work of wildlife rescue volunteers

The Animal Justice Party is dedicated to the protection of wildlife. We encourage the Queensland Government to assist in raising the volume and well-being of wildlife across the state. This could be achieved with greater assistance and additional funding being reallocated towards the expansion of wildlife corridors and used to broaden the management and coordination of rescue efforts. The AJP seeks to support those who work tirelessly to care for and rehabilitate our wildlife, and for those who invest in new and innovative ways to help Queensland wildlife when they need rescuing.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are:

1. Establish a Wildlife Rescue Committee Queensland to properly fund, coordinate and manage wildlife rescue efforts throughout the state, uniting a fragmented network of volunteer rescue groups and individuals. This will help to-
   
   
   1. ensure that volunteer rescuers and carers are continually trained and kept up to date.
      
      
   2. centrally manage volunteers in response to disasters like bushfires and floods to successfully rescue Queensland wildlife.

1. Increase grants for species recovery and sustainability from $100K to $200K and review grant availability for not-for-profit organisations.

1. Include wildlife sensitivity training as a prerequisite to graduating from P-Plates. Drivers must know how to drive safely in the presence of animals and what to do in the event of a collision.

1. Review the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 to include mandatory duty of care to wildlife injured on Queensland roads by assisting and reporting injured and orphaned wildlife.

6. Extend legal personhood to animals and nature

The Animal Justice Party acknowledges that ecosystems, natural communities, and animals are not property to be owned by humans but are integral to the Earth Community, possessing their own inalienable rights to exist and flourish free from negative human interference. We advocate for legislating the Rights of Nature, which recognizes that ecosystems—including oceans, trees, animals, and mountains—have rights comparable to human rights.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Abolish the property status of animals by allowing them all rights of personhood.

1. Create third party rights to allow animal protection organisations to bring legal proceedings in cases of animal cruelty when government authorities fail to enforce the law. The Animal Justice Party will push for uniform legislation protecting animals from human interference or harm.
2. Pursue all appropriate avenues and measures to introduce laws establishing the rights of nature, such as constitutional reform, transforming existing environmental laws or the introduction of new dedicated Rights of Nature Laws.

1. Create educational programs on the Rights of Nature, and how communities can uphold and protect our local environment. 

1. Incorporate key ecosystems, starting with the Great Barrier Reef and extending to significant forests and other vital habitats. Granting these ecosystems legal personhood will provide them with protection and the ability to seek compensation and restoration in court through legal guardians, including representatives from Indigenous communities, conservation groups, and other stakeholders. 

1. Challenge the cultural, economic and legal conceptions of nature and animals as property to be owned by humans when reviewing Bills and other proposals.
   
   

7. Crack down on animal cruelty

Queensland’s current animal protection framework treats animals as property, promoting their exploitation, especially in agriculture. This often makes cruelty permissible and weakens enforcement, as agencies responsible for animal welfare (such as the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries) also support industry interests. The Animal Justice Party will implement significant legal reforms, remove industry exemptions, and ensure accountability. No one is above the law.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Amend the Purposes in the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001 by deleting the provision that regulates the “use” of animals and replace it with a recognition of the sentience of nonhuman animals. 

1. Remove Part 6 exemptions that allow the cruel treatment of animals for testing, hunting, farming, and other purposes. This will ensure that all animals are protected under the law, regardless of the industry.
   
   
2. This agency will be responsible for coordinating investigations and enforcement, public education, advising the government on animal welfare matters, driving law reform, and regular reports to the public.
   
   
3. Repeal ‘ag-gag’ laws which silence those who reveal, or protest against, animal cruelty; specifically sections 10A and 13 of the Summary Offences Act 2005. These laws are used to silence those who expose animal cruelty and hinder transparency.
   
   
4. Legalise the rights of animal advocates and whistleblowers in animal cruelty situations such as entering agricultural land without permission and disrupting business operations to obtain evidence.

1. Mandate public CCTV in all commercial animal facilities, with footage made publicly accessible. This will ensure transparency, enhance oversight, and improve enforcement of animal welfare laws.

8. Free animals from the ‘entertainment’ industry

The Animal Justice Party envisions a Queensland where entertainment flourishes without causing harm to animals. We are committed to creating a cruelty-free entertainment industry and will begin by establishing programs and frameworks to eliminate the use and breeding of animals for human amusement. We advocate for a  transition to more humane alternatives, supported by increased government investment, with the goal of ending animal exploitation in entertainment by 2025.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Ban recreational hunting of any animal including but not limited to ‘pig dogging.’

1. End horse racing by 2030, with phasing out activities to commence immediately-
   1. Ban the breeding of horses intended for racing.
   2. Increase penalties for animal abuse to address issues such as illegal doping, excessive whipping, the use of tongue ties and burrs, and overcrowded stabling. 
   3. Enforce guidelines based on the 2020 Five Domains Model, which emphasises evaluating horse welfare from the horse's perspective and the importance of education in welfare assessment.
   4. Increase funding for rehoming programs to address the primary animal welfare issue in the Australian racing industry. A 1% levy on all betting turnover could generate $143 million annually, funding a dedicated retirement plan and significantly reducing horse slaughter.
   5. Establish a “whole life” tracking system for all equines, featuring online registration and licensing, to monitor the welfare of each horse throughout its entire life.  
2. End greyhound racing by 2025, with phase out activities to commence immediately -
   1. Cease breeding of greyhounds for racing, along with financial incentives for such breeding.
   2. Halt all future funding for the greyhound industry, which provides minimal value and depends heavily on government subsidies and gambling revenue for its existence. 
   3. Enact legislation to ban gambling advertising in sports, similar to cigarette advertising, as the community opposes gambling due to its links to widespread harm, while taxpayer dollars support both the industry and services addressing its severe consequences.
   4. Allocate funds to private greyhound rehoming organisations and independently operated sanctuaries.
   5. Establish a “whole life” tracking system, including online registration and licensing, to monitor greyhound welfare throughout their entire lives, addressing gaps in the current system that leave many dogs untracked, abandoned, or euthanised.
   6. Increase penalties for animal abuse, as current penalties are insufficient to deter the financial gains offered by the industry. 
   7. Prohibit minors from working at greyhound tracks to prevent exposure to animal suffering and psychological harm, as the racing industry’s promotion of greyhound racing as “family-friendly entertainment” dangerously normalies cruelty and desensitises children to it. 
3. Ban on all rodeos with phase out activities to commence immediately -
   1. Implement a ban on the use of juvenile animals in rodeos, following the example set by Victoria and South Australia mandating a minimum body weight of 200 kg for cattle used in rodeos, as opposed to the current weight limit of just 100 kg. Implement laws preventing the use of unweaned or recently weaned calves. 
   2. Establish and enforce mandatory animal welfare standards with a comprehensive registration and licensing system, requiring compliance with national management, handling, housing, and transport standards for rodeo animals. Additionally, mandate the presence of a qualified veterinarian at every rodeo event to ensure timely and appropriate care.
   3. Address community concerns urgently by setting an age limit for rodeo events. Despite being marketed as family-friendly, rodeos can normalise animal mistreatment and expose children to harmful behaviours such as chasing, choking, and kicking. 
   4. Increase funding for cruelty-free community events in rural areas and redirect all current rodeo funding towards phasing out rodeos. This should include support for rescue and rehabilitation groups and independent sanctuaries.
4. Commit to immediately banning the use of all animals in circuses to prevent suffering from inadequate stimulation and confinement and to address biosecurity risks, while recognizing that wildlife documentaries offer a better alternative for public education and engagement.
5. End the use of animals in zoos (including petting zoos), and marine parks by 2025, with phase out activities to commence immediately- 
   1. Phase-out government support of all circuses, zoos and marine parks. 
   2. Relocate animals used in zoos (including petting zoos), circuses and marine parks to sanctuary and conservation parks that exist solely for the service of animals.
   3. Investigate means to stop the domestic and international trade of animals for use in zoos, circuses and marine parks, into and out of Queensland.
6. Amend the Animal Care and Protection Act 2001
   1. Remove exemptions for rodeos and enforce high animal welfare standards across all facilities. 
   2. Ensure the quality of life for all captive animals and support their rehoming with redirected and additional funding. 
   3. Initiate large-scale community education campaigns, particularly in schools, to promote cruelty-free alternatives and emphasise the value of animals in their natural habitats.

9. Provide loving homes for companion animals

Companion animals are cherished members of Queensland families, and research shows they have positive effects on human mental and physical health. The Animal Justice Party will work for a kinder, animal friendly Queensland by championing the welfare and wellbeing of beloved companions.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are: 

1. Secure ongoing State funding for local council pounds and rehoming shelters to ensure no lost or homeless animal is euthanized and that time spent in pounds is short and comfortable.  
2. Create a statewide fund for subsidised desexing and mandatory microchipping, with additional support for the costs associated with rescued animals.
   
   
3. Establish an advisory committee comprising rescue organisations to create a budget and strategies for the effective rescue and rehoming of companion animals.
   
   
4. Transition all Queensland shelters to no-kill facilities and foster partnerships between local councils and animal rescue organisations for rehoming efforts.
   
   
5. Promote humane population control for cats through ‘trap, neuter, release/rehome’ (TNR) programs and community education.
   
   
6. Prohibit / ban puppy farms, kitten farms, and unregistered for-profit breeders, and strengthen the Breeder ID system to ensure all breeders meet strict welfare requirements.
   
   
7. Restrict the number of animals bred each year until shelters and pounds are empty, then explore reforms to outlaw commercial breeding practices.
   
   
8. Mandate that working and bred animals cannot be killed once deemed ‘unusable’ and must live as a companion animal or be rehomed within Queensland.
   
   
9. Phase out online advertising and sales of non-rescue companion animals and pet shop sales, incentivising shops to partner with rescue organisations for rehoming and charitable efforts.
   
   
10. Launch an inquiry to review the Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008.

1. Investigate options to run community “guardian and companion” education sessions teaching animal behaviour, socialisation, first aid, training and caring for animals for adults and children.
   
   
2. Run animal adoption campaigns for pound, rescue and shelter animals including information sessions in schools.
   
   
3. Support the Queensland Government to end the discrimination against tenants with companion animals by reforming residential tenancy laws as quickly as possible, following the example set in Victoria.
   
   
4. Promote reforms allowing companion animals to travel on public transport services with responsible persons, starting with Translink.        
   
   
5. Investigate ways to allow the inclusion of companion animals into retirement living facilities to promote residents’ mental wellbeing and safeguard the welfare of their companions.

10. Promote AJP’s core values of Kindness, Equality, Rationality and Nonviolence

The Animal Justice Party (AJP) upholds Kindness, Equality, Rationality, and Nonviolence and rejects all forms of violence and oppression, as evidence shows that those who are cruel to non-human animals often also inflict harm through domestic violence and other  societal issues. Our candidates are committed to creating a safer Queensland for both human and non-human animals.

Our commitments for the 2024 Queensland Election are:

1. Support treaty and Indigenous rights by endorsing fast-tracking the Government’s Path to Treaty with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Our representatives will consult with Indigenous leaders on relevant social issues, supporting a Queensland-based Makarrata Commission for truth-telling and agreement-making, and upholding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

1. Address Family Violence by advocating for increased funding for services and shelters that accept companion animals. Recognizing that pets are crucial to survivors, we will push for legal personhood for animals to prevent them from being used as leverage in abusive situations.
   
   
2. Restore public trust by tackling corruption, which undermines the rule of law and impedes effective governance, including in animal and environmental protection.
   
   
3. Enhance gun safety by resisting the  push to expand gun access and opposing the gun lobby’s influence by focusing on keeping Queenslanders safe from gun violence.

1. Investigate poor working conditions in slaughterhouses and mandate CCTV for transparency. 

1. Support slaughterhouse workers by exploring alternative employment opportunities and providing funding for the transition to kinder work practices. 

1. Advocating for a shift from animal agriculture to sustainable, plant based farming practices. We aim to assist farmers in transitioning to crop cultivation or other viable agricultural ventures.