The AJP snagged the last seat, and (as far as I know) its very first state level seat in Australia.
That pleases me for some reason.
It's good news for a couple of reasons:
- The AJP is new, and this is only its second contested election. For them to beat out the No Land Tax Party for the final seat with a campaign budget of $12,000 was both not predicted but also gives them a leg up in establishing themselves as a political fixture, which is important because
- Mark Pearson, leader of Animals Liberation Australia, will be the first ever Australian politician elected as a voice to represent animals, and he is a legitimate and credible voice who will be able to, hopefully, negotiate against the 'ag gag' laws increasing penalties for exposure of animal cruelty, and then we can maybe look at a ban on puppy farms, get rid of greyhound racing, and other nasties that are currently tolerated...
IIRC, Labour (or at least parts of it ?) is in favor of keeping greyhound racing because jobs. Is the Coalition in favor of getting rid of it because class warfare, a bit like what we saw occurring in the infamous Bird Massacre Referendum in Malta ?
