Tuesday, 20 September 2022

 Mr MEDDICK (Western Victoria) (10:27): This is the last members statement that I will make in this place before the November polls, and I want to take a moment to reflect on all we have been able to achieve with the Animal Justice Party in Parliament. We have had huge wins for animals, like banning recreational wombat hunting, protecting animals from family violence and reforming the wildlife rescue sector. We have secured tens of millions of dollars in budget funding for important animal protection initiatives; rescuers and carers have not only been given an important boost but are finally receiving government acknowledgement for the importance of their work. But there is so much more to be done. We are so close to banning recreational duck shooting in Victoria. We have to oversee the rewriting of the new wildlife act and the implementation of a brand new animal care and protection bill to replace the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986, which will finally legally recognise animal sentience in Victoria. We need to take the next step on Veticare and work with the government on its implementation. We need to ensure the 17 recommendations from the Taskforce on Rehoming Pets—which I was proud to chair—are implemented swiftly. And we need to end the sale of fur in the state following multiple investigations revealing illegal labelling. But we can only do this by winning my seat safely back in this Parliament and in this place, and I hope to have the honour of being returned with an even bigger, stronger Animal Justice Party team.