General News & Updates

📢 Closing Puppy Farm Loopholes
In a major win, we've secured government commitment to urgently review Victoria's commercial dog breeding laws. Existing loopholes allowed breeders to operate with a Ministerial exemption, so this change will undoubtedly save lives.

🏛️ Proposed Voting System Overhaul
The Victorian Government has proposed changes to the Upper House voting system that could make it much harder for minor parties like the Animal Justice Party to win seats. You can read about what these changes mean, and what’s at stake, below.

🎉 Happy Birthday, Georgie!
This month, we celebrated Georgie Purcell’s birthday. Thank you, Georgie, for the compassion and unrelenting commitment you bring to everything you do.

🐾 Greyhound Racing Update
We're devastated to report that Jabberwocky, Aniseed Bali, Paw Xabia, Just Telling and Paw Shervington all recently lost their lives on Victorian racetracks. Their deaths bring the total number of on-track greyhound deaths in Victoria to 18 so far this year. We will continue fighting to end this killing, starting by defunding dog racing.

Georgie’s Voice In Parliament Is Under Threat

As Victoria’s only Animal Justice Party MP, Georgie brings issues into Parliament that the major parties would otherwise ignore, and her work is delivering real change.

But proposed changes to Victoria’s voting system could put Georgie’s seat at serious risk. We need your help to protect this vital voice in Parliament.

First, here’s some of what Georgie has achieved this month, and what we stand to lose.

Big Win: Puppy Farm Laws Under Review

Thanks to your support and Georgie’s relentless advocacy, the Victorian Government announced a review of puppy farm laws. This enormous win will close the loopholes that allow puppy farmers to operate through an exemption system.

The announcement follows public outcry that stopped a proposed $1.9 million dog-breeding facility in Elphinstone, which could have housed up to 150 dogs forced to breed over and over in their lifetime.

Now, Georgie is working with the government to ensure these changes are actually implemented before the November election.

Standing Up For Swift Parrots

Georgie brought the destruction of critical swift parrot habitat to Parliament, directly addressing the Minister for Environment about loophole logging occurring under the guise of fire prevention and storm recovery.

She'll keep pushing the government to protect our native forests and the threatened animals who call them home.

Calling For An End To Greyhound Exports

This month Georgie called on Greyhound Racing Victoria to ban all exports of greyhound outside of Victoria, after attempts were allegedly made to send Victorian greyhounds to China for illegal racing and breeding.

China has no legal, regulated greyhound racing industry. Dogs sent there disappear into underground networks with no recognised welfare protections, and little chance of ever being tracked again.

Greyhound Racing Victoria has the power to ensure no greyhound is exported from our state, and Georgie is demanding they use it.

On The Road Across Northern Victoria

Georgie travelled across her electorate in Northern Victoria, visiting Forever Friends Animal Rescue and Waratah Wildlife Shelter to meet the dedicated people caring for animals in need.

She also joined Kinglake Friends of the Forest to see firsthand the devastating impacts of loophole logging on our native forests and wildlife.

As always, Georgie is committed to advocating alongside hard-working community groups and animal rescues across Victoria.

Calling for a Ban on Live Lamb Cutting

Georgie joined FOUR PAWS to deliver a petition signed by more than 500,000 people from around the world calling for an end to live lamb cutting (mulesing). Every year, more than 10 million Australian lambs are subjected to this painful procedure, despite humane alternatives already being available.

Georgie is calling on the government to end this outdated practice and ensure Australia is no longer the last country in the world where live lamb cutting continues.

Defending Dingoes

This month in Parliament, Georgie raised urgent concerns about dingoes in north-west Victoria, calling on the Minister for Environment to guarantee that they will remain protected.

This call followed reports of a deceased dingo being struck by a vehicle and discarded on the roadside, prompting concerns about the future of this iconic native species.

In her speech, Georgie highlighted the important ecological role dingoes play in maintaining healthy ecosystems and warned against reducing their value to debates about genetic purity alone. With uncertainty remaining around whether existing protections will be maintained, Georgie is calling for clear commitments from the government that dingoes will continue to be recognised and protected in our state.

Protecting Victoria’s Native Forests

Georgie hosted a special screening of the short documentary Forest Country in Parliament, alongside key forest protection groups.

The film details the way that native forest logging has been allowed to continue through various loopholes - and the scale of the destruction of some of Victoria’s most significant habitats through a system that is secretive by design.

Georgie is proud to work alongside advocacy organisations that do such important work to shed a light on loophole logging, and the fight to protect our state’s magnificent forests.

Alongside everything above, Georgie has continued raising the issues too often overlooked in Parliament, including:

Holding the government to its commitment to modernise Victoria’s broken wildlife laws
Fighting for the promised Great Forest National Park
Calling for a full investigation into the killing of the beloved Malmsbury geese
Seeking government funding to upgrade Tony Clarke Reserve in Macedon
Advocating for the Bird Advocacy Foundation’s ethical wildlife management project
Supporting a petition to save VicHealth
Calling for an investigation into dodgy plantation operations in the Strzelecki Ranges

... And so much more.

All Of This Work Is Under Threat

The government has just announced that its planning to introduce an overhaul of the Victorian voting system at the eleventh hour.

For years, we've been calling for reforms that would strengthen our democracy and allow fair and proportional representation for Victorians.

But the government has ignored those calls, and instead intends to ram through a band-aid solution before the November election.

These proposed changes make an already difficult State Election even more uncertain. Victoria’s political landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented, with the rise of minor parties and the far right making election outcomes harder to predict.

The honest reality is that there is a very real risk Georgie may not be re-elected. This change would instead hand the balance of power to dangerous parties like One Nation.

Without Georgie in Parliament as the only voice for animals, cruelty will not only continue in this state, but will worsen.

Help Us Hold This Seat for Animals

That’s why we need your help. Running a strong statewide campaign requires significant resources, a committed team and the ability to reach voters across Victoria.

If you want Georgie to keep standing up for animals in Parliament, please consider donating to her re-election campaign. Every contribution, no matter the size, will help us defend this seat and ensure this vital work can continue when it is needed most.

I Can Donate $50 to Keep Georgie in Parliament

Urgent Action Needed to Prevent a Hunting Superagency

A few days ago, we asked you to write to the new Victorian Premier, Ben Carroll, and urge him to take the dangerous Outdoor Recreation Victoria Bill off the government's priority agenda.

Thanks to thousands of you taking quick action, we've won a reprieve: the bill did not make it onto the government’s legislative agenda this week.

It's a positive sign, but the fight isn’t over yet.

We need you to keep up the pressure on Ben Carroll to abandon this dangerous legislation altogether.

If this bill passes, the duck shooting 'regulator' will also be responsible for promoting animal hunting; and wildlife rescuers will face the threat of imprisonment just for saving wounded birds on the wetlands.

If you haven't emailed the Premier yet, please do it today.

If you have, please do it again.

Use Our Template to Email the New Premier

We have a very narrow window to make sure the Government hears us loud and clear: this bill must not go ahead.

25 Candidates and Growing

The state election is now only 45 months away, and we're building serious momentum.

The Animal Justice Party now has 25 candidates standing up for animals, people and the planet across Victoria.

Every new candidate means more conversations in our communities, more visibility for animal protection policies, and a stronger voice for compassion and integrity at the ballot box.

Meet our Candidates

We still need you in these seats

We're urgently seeking candidates for a number of priority electorates: Niddrie, Mildura, Murray Plains, Euroa, Shepparton, Yan Yean, Ovens Valley, Sunbury, Mill Park, North-East Metropolitan (Upper House), and Western Victoria (Upper House).

These seats matter strategically. Strong results here help boost Georgie's re-election vote and strengthen our hand to negotiate real animal protection commitments with other parties after the election.

Could this be you?

You don't need political experience – just a genuine care for your community, a willingness to give something new a go, and a commitment to ending animal cruelty in Victoria. Come along to our beginner-friendly info session to find out what's involved.

Candidate Info Session

📆 Tuesday, 11th August | 7.15-8.15pm

🔗 Online via Zoom - Register for the Link

Our Community in Action

Our community has been busy building momentum ahead of the Victorian election, and having important conversations with voters to ensure they understand exactly what's at stake in November.

Along with the events below, our volunteers have been researching and writing submissions to developments that threaten critical natural environment.

If you want to be a part our community and have a few hours to volunteer each week, sign up today and we'll be in touch.

Standing up for Kangaroos

We joined the Victorian Kangaroo Alliance’s dedicated outreach team in Melbourne’s CBD to raise awareness about the commercial killing of kangaroos and the cruel wildlife trade.

Join the next Monthly Kangaroo Outreach on Thursday 13 August, from 11am–1pm, and help us speak up for kangaroos.

Jumps Racing Protests 🐎

Join us at two upcoming protests as we call for an end to jumps racing in Victoria, the only Australian state where this cruel sport remains legal.

2 August, Sandown Racecourse (Springvale) - RSVP Here
16 August, Ballarat Turf Club - RSVP Here (plus vegan picnic)

AJP National Conference 💜

The Animal Justice Party National Conference will be held on 25 and 26 October, hosted by AJP NSW. This members-only event is a wonderful opportunity to connect, learn and strengthen our movement.

Check out the speakers, jam-packed schedule, and get your tickets here.

Winter Vegan Market

We'll once again be at the Coburg Vegan Winter Market on 19 and 20 September, drumming up awareness of important animal issues and collecting critical petition signatures. Come visit us!

Now Collecting Raffle Prizes

Part of running a successful election campaign is fundraising. There are plenty of costs involved in an election, and we don't have any corporate donors - just people like you, who want to see a better world for animals.

In two months' time, we'll be launching a raffle to power our 2026 Victorian state election campaign.

Do you own a business or have a product, service or experience you'd like to donate for our raffle?

If you're able to support us, we would love to promote your business to our community of 35,000 social media followers and 25,000 email subscribers.

Interested? Email details to [email protected] to donate a prize and help us create a kinder future for animals.

Become a Member

Elections get the headlines. But the real work – the policy research, the campaign groundwork, the constant pressure on decision-makers – happens in the months no one's watching.

That work only happens because members fund it and back it. Every membership adds to the foundation and stability that we need to keep pushing for change, especially when it's the unpopular fight worth having.

We can't do this at the scale animals need without more people in our corner. If that's you, join today. It's one of the most direct ways to turn what you've just read into real support.

Become a Member

July has shown what's possible when passionate people come together.

From securing a review of puppy farm laws to standing up against dangerous legislation and giving animals a strong voice in Parliament, every step forward has been driven by supporters like you. But with the Victorian State Election fast approaching, our work is far from over. Re-electing Georgie is essential if we're to keep fighting for stronger protections for animals, people and the planet – and we can't do it without you.

Whatever you can give – your vote, your time, your membership – it all adds up to a kinder Victoria for animals, people and the planet.

For ALL animals

Chloe Nicolosi, State Convenor

Animal Justice Party Victoria

Georgie Purcell MP

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Announcements

July 13, 2026

Paid Role - Member Engagement & Admin Officer

We're Hiring! The Animal Justice Party (Victoria) is excited to announce an opportunity to join our team as our new Member Engagement, Volunteer & Administration Officer. Paid roles within grassroots animal advocacy and political movements are rare, and this is a unique opportunity to...

Blog | Advocacy | Georgie Purcell MP

July 01, 2026

Closing Victoria’s Puppy Farm Loophole