ANIMAL Justice Party candidate Tamara Champion will contest the seat of Nepean in the upcoming state election.
Champion joined the party in late 2022 after a mentor encouraged her to get involved with politics while she was taking part in an animal activism mentorship program.
She said she was drawn to the party after finding its values aligned with her own.
“Animal protection is absolutely one of the main reasons I entered politics, and I’m not going to shy away from that,” said Champion.
“Animals have very little representation in our political system, and I want to change that. At the same time, I’m proud to represent the people who live in Nepean too.”
Champion grew up on the peninsula and has spent the past decade working in bushland restoration, restoring native vegetation, protecting biodiversity, and helping conserve threatened ecosystems.
She said the connection between animals, the environment, and the community was central to her decision to run.
“People don’t have to agree with me on absolutely everything,” said Champion.
“What I would want them to know is that I take the responsibility of representing this community seriously, listen to people and advocate strongly for the issues affecting Nepean.”
Champion said if she were elected, by the end of her term she would want to see Victoria modernise its animal protection laws and have duck shooting permanently banned.
“I’d also want to have delivered for Nepean on protecting Rosebud Hospital, tackling homelessness and housing insecurity, and safeguarding the peninsula’s environment and wildlife habitat,” said Champion.
Champion highlighted the fact the current animal protection legislation is over 40 years old and is aimed at “punishing” cruelty rather than preventing it.
“We’d like to see a system that is clearer, more consistent, easier to enforce and based more strongly on preventing suffering rather than only responding once serious harm has occurred,” said Champion.
“Currently, there is no central body for reporting incidents of neglect and abuse, which means it is difficult to know the true scale of the problem or where these issues are happening most, or to even track known abusers.”
Champion said the Animal Justice Party wants to see the proposed Animal Care and Protection Bill introduced and progressed.
She said she is particularly concerned by the 251 animal cruelty cases recorded on the peninsula over the past 12 months.
“When people are struggling financially, veterinary care, food and other basic costs associated with caring for animals can become harder to afford,” said Champion.
“Financial hardship can unfortunately contribute to situations of neglect, even where somebody may not have deliberately intended to cause harm.”
Champion said the number of animals seized or surrendered on the peninsula increased from 22 to 103 over the past year.
“Responsibility for animal welfare is currently spread across a number of different bodies depending on the species and circumstances, and there is no single central system that gives us a clear picture of where neglect and abuse are occurring,” said Champion.
“For me, the answer has to involve both supporting people before situations reach crisis point and strengthening the animal protection system, so authorities are able to intervene earlier.”
Champion said hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars go towards animal-harming industries each year.
She said an independent parliamentary budget office analysis showed the possibility of saving over $450m over ten years by ending government subsidies to the greyhound racing industry.
“At a time when Victorians are facing a cost-of-living crisis, this is the kind of expenditure that should be redirected into hospitals, mental health services and housing to ease the pressure,” said Champion.
“More broadly, the Animal Justice Party supports measures to address housing access and affordability, including limits on unfair rental increases, stronger tenancy protections and greater investment in social and affordable housing.”
Champion said human, environmental, and animal welfare do not operate in silos.
“That’s why I’m advocating for solutions that solve intersectional issues,” said Champion.
Champion will join Liberal incumbent Anthony Marsh, One Nation candidate Darren Hercus, The Greens candidate Sianan Healy, and independent Kim Robbins in the contest for Nepean.
Labor is yet to announce a candidate for the seats of Nepean or Mornington (“Frustration rising in Labor ranks as no candidates emerge eight weeks out”, The News, 06/10/26).
First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 13 October 2026
