ABC TV News

One of Australia’s most innovative and lucrative short form writing competitions was announced last night by Voiceless, the animal protection institute. The Voiceless Writing Prize sponsored by Australian Ethical Investment will award a total prize pool of well over $20,000 to writers who compellingly address the relationship between humans and animals, and animal sentience.

Voiceless is proud to stand in solidarity with Animals Australia and with its Communications Director, Lyn White, on the issue of live export. The allegation made by Senator Chris Back at the parliamentary inquiry into live export on 10 August 2011 – that Ms White paid Indonesian abattoir workers to inflict cruelty on cattle – is to our knowledge unfounded and reckless. No evidence has been shown to support his claim. This appears to be a desperate attempt to discredit one of Australia’s most passionate, principled and capable advocates for animal protection.

Animal protection think tank Voiceless today announced the appointment of world-renowned primatologist and animal advocate Dr Jane Goodall, and former judge of the High Court of Australia, The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, as Patrons. The two join existing Voiceless Patrons, 2003 Nobel Laureate for Literature, J M Coetzee, and Voiceless co-founder and managing director Brian Sherman AM. Brian Sherman founded Voiceless in 2004 with Ondine Sherman. Mr Sherman was named this week as one of Forbes Asia’s 48 Heroes of Philanthropy. 

Twice Aria-nominated singer-songwriter Holly Throsby and her band The Hello Tigers will entertain guests at the second annual Voices of Art benefit, tickets for which go on sale today.