NSW Young Lawyers Animal Rights Committee received $2,500 towards an Animal Law Conference. Based on the theme ‘The Future of Animal Law in Australia’, the conference took place in July 2007 at The University of NSW. Attendees ranged from academics, solicitors and barristers to members of government departments and law students from across Australia. The conference was a unique opportunity for members of the legal community to be educated about key animal law issues. It also provided for invaluable networking to take place between individuals and representatives of organisations alike.

Griffith University together with Compassion in World Farming were awarded $20,000 for their project titled: ‘Humane Education: a compassionate ethic for animals’ - the first national symposium on humane education held in Australia . The symposium took place on the 5^th and 6^th of October 2007 at Griffith University and was attended by almost one hundred delegates from across the country. The education sector was widely represented both by those who attended and those who spoke at the symposium. This resulted in two remarkable days of discussion and debate about the concept of humane education and how it can be effectively implemented in schools throughout Australia . A comprehensive website, 'Humane Education in Australia', has been developed and includes copies of the presentations given at the symposium. (Bio-distributors is kindly contributing $5,000 towards this grant).

The ‘Kangaroo Wildlife Trail’ is a fantastic project of the Australian Wildlife Protection Protection Council, aimed at encouraging both international and Australian tourists to gain a better appreciation for the intrinsic value of kangaroos and other native wildlife.  The first stage of the project, the construction of an interactive website providing comprehensive information about wild kangaroos, is already complete.



The second component of the project is the creation and distribution of a wildlife trail map that will serve as a guide to enable tourists to see and learn about 50 species of kangaroos across Australia.  For more information, please visit  www.rootourism.com.au/

Redfern Legal Centre received a grant of $20,000 in 2006, and a special grant of $15,000 in 2007, for the establishment of the Pro Bono Animal Law Service (PALS), a legal referral service which links animal protection organisations and individuals with lawyers who are willing to provide free legal services to promote better animal protection outcomes. Due to its success, in the future, PALS will operate as a national service out of the Public Interest Law Clearing House (PILCH) in Victoria. PALS@PILCH will seek to improve laws to promote animal protection by engaging in strategic litigation, community education and law reform and policy work.   For further information, see our legal advice page. 

The Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland received $20,000 for the ‘Human Battery Cage Campaign’ which achieved notoriety across Australia in 2006. The campaign involved the use of oversized battery cages containing human occupants displayed in public spaces around the country. The cages, intended to illustrate the inhumane living conditions imposed on battery hens, attracted the attention of members of the public in every location as well as receiving an extraordinary amount of media coverage. For more details see: www.humanbatterycage.com

Griffith University and The University of Auckland received a $15,000 grant for a project entitled: 'Animal Law in Australasia : A New Dialogue’ - a unique project consisting of two components. The first of these was completed in September 2007 when an intensive animal law workshop was held, bringing together academics and practitioners currently working on animal law scholarship to discuss the legal issues relating to how animals are treated in the region. The second component of the project involves publication of the first major academic work in the Southern Hemisphere on animal law, and will be released in January 2009. A preview of the book can be found, and pre-orders placed, on the publisher's website. 

The ‘Free Range Canberra’ campaign run by Animal Liberation ACT has successfully helped to bring the issue of battery cages to the top of the agenda of the ACT government. In 2007, the ACT government pledged to source eggs from only barn or free-range facilities, and is taking other steps to bring an end to the cruel practice of battery cage egg production in that State, as well as Australia-wide. The Free Range Canberra Team continue their unflagging efforts to lobby government and to educate consumers about this important issue.  (This project was generously sponsored by Morinda Australia Pty Ltd.)

Christine Bond received $2,500 for her One Mile Dam project, which helped to improve, and raise awareness about, the health and welfare of companion animals in indigenous town camps in the Darwin region. Ms Bond implemented de-sexing and vaccination programs, assisted community members to care for their animals themselves, and successfully engaged with other organisations to obtain funding to keep her work going in the future.

humaneconsumer have used their $5,000 grant to develop a stylish, easy to read website which gives people the information they need to make humane choices in relation to egg and meat products, cosmetics and personal care products, and pet adoption. humaneconsumer.com.au has received a tremendous amount of hits in recent months, signalling the increasing desire of Australian consumers to eat and live ethically.

With their grant of $2,500, the Vegetarian/Vegan Society of Queensland was able to re-print and distribute their informative and inspiring ‘Boycott cruelty – go vegan’ booklet. The booklet is also available for download from their website. 

Add to: