New Australian Political Party

I'm not so sure. I think in Australia really, really minor parties still have a fair chance of getting a seat... in the Senate anyway. Look at Steve Fielding, from his preferences, he scored a seat. And he's pretty much single issue too... "I will do whatever God tells me to" is what his policy boils down to in my opinion. It's too bad though that he doesn't realise that what he's hearing isn't some sort of divine intervention, but instead schizophrenia :S

But anyway, if they get a seat or not, they can still execute an influence if we give them the power to.... and if they can't even do that, they'll be able to hold the other parties to an account in a way much closer to Canberra than an organization like Animals Australia or ALV could. Lobbyists work pretty well though in Canberaa anyway though haha.

On preferences, i'm pretty sure the party execs will be careful with them. But yes, best to number them yourself.

I hope we don't let our current political system hijack democracy for us... everyone who believes in its policy should vote for it, never mind the tangible outcome of it. It sends the best message we could hope for at this point.

Despite a whole semester of elective commerce last year, im still hazy on the topic of 'government'.
I dont know much about this party either as they havn't yet released detailed information on their website. But what are their aims in terms of government? Do they wish to obtain a certain amount of seats in lower paliament (? am i using the correct terms ?) as to at least have an influence on government decisions regarding animals?

yeh, i hope they'll add more info soon.

i know when the "Sex Party" launched in Australia (made to look after the rights of 'sex workers') there was a fair fuss around them, so hopefully there'll be the same for the AJP, and we can learn more about them. but idk.

i think heaps depends on how hard a line on animal issue they'll push. like for example if they are to be staunchly abolitionist, i doubt they'll win one seat. but, if they are for animal welfare, they're in for a chance. like, imagine if they became the 'feel good vote' for australians? might just get enough seats to not only be involved in the debate, but have a massive influence on legislation.

It will be interesting to see what their policies are, whether they will be promoting abstinence from animal products, highlighting the environmental, health and social impacts of animal agriculture and basically what it is they say they are lobbying for.

Lobbying can work damn well, it just depends on who it's coming from... Monsanto were mentioned in another post for example it's worked pretty bloody well for them...
ha.

As for this party though, I'm not terribly fond of single issue either.  (well, can we call human-nonhuman relations a single issue?....I suppose the issue would be speciesism, but will this party be overtly combatting that?) There's a lot that needs to be addressed outside the animal issues and I'd hate to have my vote given to say, tony abott, because the liberal party promises to increase the size to bird ratio in a broiler shed or something.

As someone that considers themselves to be an abolitionist, I'll put it this way:
If they make clear the attrocity inherent to animal use, I may very well vote for them.
If they attack certain practices in relaiton to animal use and lobby for anything short of a ban on that type of use, I don't think so.

Say the RSPCA were a political party... do you think they'd be worth voting for?

Im checking their website daily and cant wait to find out about them

The sex party - i think - were also aiming to promote 'safe sex' and i think generally just bring sex out into the open.
The term moral schizophrenia I think applies to our attitudes towards a lot of things in our lives, but surrounding sex and animals I think are the worst cases.

interesting question. i'd probably just give it to the Greens or a sympathizing independent... the RSPCA are way too dodgy for me to give anything too though.

btw francis, ty for the answer to the abolitionist question. so if they turn out to be new welfarist, who would you give your vote too? the Greens are to be what i wouldn't even consider new welfarist, but rather just welfarist.... at least they were the last time i read their policy on animals.

I know the RSPCA arent the god-sent angels that they promote themselves as, but if some form of RSPCA political party formed... im sure they'd receive a hella lot of votes from the people who think they are.

Buts its actually an interesting question. If I had voting abilities and the RSPCA were providing the "best deal" for animals in comparison to other parties, then of course id want them to grab a seat or two (again, apologies for my lack of government knowledge). They probably wont provide the standards that I want, but at least animal welfare and/or rights is becomming politically involved.

I read somewhere that the greens policy regarding animals was very much to ban a lot of the 'low-hanging fruit' like live export, battery cages etc. Which I like. I want these practices to go, but I don't like animal groups campaigning just for these bans without making explicit they are against all animal use.  So if a political party could come a long and do that that would be very helpful and save a load of resources which would hopefully (?) be put into vegan education. [[[[[This is something that is interesting to me actually.. After things like battery cages are gone and 'free range' or 'barn laid' eggs are the norm or there equal in meat etc... what will self-confessed 'new-welfarists' campaign for?]]]]]

I also (and I may have been dreaming) think that they aim to promote vegetarianism to some extent,  or at least less animal consumption.

Don't get me wrong, this falls far short of what I think is right, but as far as a political party goes who are not claiming to be there just for animals and in this current context regarding animal/human relations  I think it's quite impressive.
They also have quite good policies regarding public transport/health/education as far as I recall and I don't think they're too keen on the military. Or at least, not keen on spending a whole lot (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) more money on guns and tanks made to destroy rather than on educating people and keeping them healthy.


Anyway, back to the point... I don't think I will vote for this group unless they make clear the problems with all animal use. This doesn't mean I expect them to march into parliament (if they're elected) and just repeat vegan vegan vegan vegan or abolish animal slavery etc! (perhaps a couple of times would be nice though? ha) In fact, I think it would make sense to draw attention to single issue issues in parliament... just so long as there was never endorsement or percievable endorsement of animal use.

I think it'd be find for them to be in there saying ban this and ban that. My main grievance is when animal advocates show the general public a problem and then tell them how to respond - and that suggested response is something short of a total boycott.

I'm sure they don't expect to get voted in. However, they know they can raise the profile of animal issues if they work with the media. The Greens are the only party with animal 'friendly' policies. Welfare whatever, at least they have policies WRT animals http://greens.org.au/node/759

By voting a party like the AJP first then Greens second etc, it sends a clear message to any government (that gets elected) that animals are important.

LOL at your comment about Senator Fielding Matt, that was funny ;o)