Dear Ellie,

We hope you are keeping warm out there as winter sets in. Our members and supporters have been out on chilly mornings at markets, connecting with locals, attending events, and being a voice for animals right across the state. 

Regional groups have been super busy, holding stalls and catch-ups, and helping work on campaigns and actions for animals. On Saturday the 25th of July, four regional groups came together on four beaches for our Nets Out Now day of action, calling on the NSW Government to keep shark nets out of our waters this summer.

Our MP Emma Hurst has kept the pressure on in Parliament and in the media too, with a greyhound racing track set to close early, a damning audit of the racing regulator, and a new petition from Emma calling for an animal abuse register.

Speakers and early bird tickets for our 2026 National Conference in Sydney are live. Beyond that sits the 2027 NSW State Election. Everything Emma has won for animals, the lifetime bans, the recent dingo inquiry, the pressure on greyhound racing, holds only while there is someone in Parliament to defend it. Animals get no say in that outcome. We do, and we need you with us.

New animal cruelty laws are putting offenders behind bars. The laws our MP Emma Hurst passed to criminalise the possession and distribution of animal sexual abuse material have now put 47 people in jail. Before Emma was in Parliament, that material was legal to possess and distribute in NSW. People who harm animals in this way have a higher chance of going on to harm other animals and children, and Emma says that without the legislation they "would probably still be in the community harming others".

Wentworth Park will close early. The greyhound racing track will close by the end of the year, with the land redeveloped for housing. Our MP Emma Hurst likened the early closure to removing the heart of the industry in NSW, calling greyhound racing "a dying industry" and the early closure "one more nail in its coffin". Emma says the park "belongs to the public, not an industry that kills dogs as a hobby". 

A scathing audit of the greyhound racing regulator. The Auditor-General has found serious failings at the Greyhound Welfare and Integrity Commission. Investigations into animal welfare concerns were significantly delayed, with serious cases taking close to two years to resolve and one taking longer. Emma says the report shows GWIC has no credible way to demonstrate it is improving animal welfare, and that "one of the most appalling findings is that GWIC’s own incompetency resulted in reduced penalties for very serious animal cruelty".

Join Our Brumby Working Group. Working groups are volunteer-led and campaign on specific animal protection issues, supporting legislative reform, community advocacy and Emma's work in Parliament. Send us an email to [email protected] with the subject ‘Brumby Working Group’ and include your name and email, and we’ll connect you.

Animals need an abuse register. Our MP Emma Hurst passed laws giving animal abusers automatic lifetime bans; however, vets, rescue groups, breeders and pet shops have no way to find out if someone is banned. A couple was recently found guilty of eight animal cruelty offences in NSW, two of them for breaching their ban. That cruelty was preventable. Emma says "the fact that abusers' privacy is prioritised over animal safety is outrageous", and she plans to change it.
Sign Emma's petition here

Support Emma’s work

Change happens when people like you choose to get involved, back animal protection and stand behind Emma in Parliament.

It can be simple. Becoming a member. Joining a working group. Helping at an event or sharing a petition. Small actions, taken together, are what shift things.

Donations help power the fight for animals and get Emma re-elected for another 8 years.

24 and 25 October 2026
Sydney and Online

The Animal Justice Party 2026 National Conference will bring together change-makers from across Australia and beyond, spanning law, politics, science, welfare, and activism, for our most powerful event yet.

We are thrilled to welcome Moby, Dr Kate, Peter Singer, Tess Vickery, Shatha Hamade, Captain Paul Watson and Clare Mann to the 2026 lineup, with animal protection organisations Animals Australia, Australian Alliance for Animals and FOUR PAWS joining them.

Many more speakers will be announced in the coming weeks!

Please note: You must be a member of the Animal Justice Party to attend the conference. If you want to hear directly from leading voices in animal protection at this year's conference, now is the time to join.

👉 Become a member from $22 a year

NETS OUT NOW - Day of Action

Our MP Emma Hurst says successive NSW governments have "relied on outdated and ineffective shark nets from the 1930s and have failed to invest in modern technologies to keep beachgoers safe", and that lethal shark control does not work because most sharks are migratory and "are constantly being replaced by new sharks moving into the area". Emma is calling on the NSW Government to invest in non lethal alternatives and stop using methods that do not work. 

Animal Justice Party NSW Central Coast and Hunter representative Sarah Ryan says the government should keep the nets out, welcoming the "more drone surveillance ordered along our coast".

Our Central Coast regional group leader Emily McCallum pointed to the juvenile seal that recently arrived at Terrigal Beach, drawing hundreds of visitors a day. If the nets go back in, that much loved seal could become entangled and drown, as other seals have before him. Emily says "it's time for drones to replace these draconian death nets", and that drone coverage should extend to every patrolled beach in NSW.

The day was covered by ABC radio and the Newcastle Herald. Thank you to every single person who stood on a beach with us.

Sign our petition to ban killer shark nets

12th birthday of SoCares Central Coast Animal Shelters

Our Newcastle-Hunter and Central Coast groups came together on the 4th of July to celebrate the 12th birthday of SoCares Central Coast Animal Shelters. This organisation finds rescued dogs their furever homes. Some of those pooches came along too, including Anna in her scarf, who has been waiting 18 months to find a family.

The group had wonderful conversations about animal policy with everyone who dropped past the stall.

Ten years outside Royal Prince Alfred

Our Northern Beaches group joined Sydney Save Animals In Laboratories for their tenth anniversary action outside Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. For close to ten years they have shone a light into the hidden world of animal experimentation, exposing the suffering of primates, pigs and countless other animals used in research and testing.

Much of the focus now is on xenotransplantation, in which animals are bred and genetically modified to produce organs and tissues intended for human transplantation. Human organs grown from human cells are where funding needs to go. Our members joined the rally to urge funding bodies to preference animal free, human relevant science.

Thank you to everyone who turned out to mark ten years of this work.

Inner West at Marrickville Markets

It was a lovely morning for our Inner West Regional Group members at Marrickville Markets handing out dog biscuits and chatting to market goers, with a special visit from our MP Emma Hurst stopping by to say hi. 

They met many happy dogs on the chilly Sunday. ❤️🐾

Newcastle and Central Coast at Pokolbin Markets

Our Newcastle-Hunter and Central Coast groups were out on Sunday 12th of July for a beautiful winter morning at the Pokolbin Markets, chatting with locals about the work our MP Emma Hurst leads to strengthen protections for animals and make sure they have a voice in Parliament. With the 2027 NSW State Election approaching, those conversations have never mattered more.

Wollongong/Illawarra afternoon tea

A big thank you to everyone who came along to our Wollongong/Illawarra group's afternoon tea at MacCabe Park on Saturday 18th of July. They could not have asked for a nicer winter's day, with the sun out and the park full of life.

The group caught up with familiar faces and met some new ones too, and a very warm welcome to our new members. It means so much knowing there are people in our community who care about animals. And the food. The vegan snacks were a massive hit; thank you, Leafy Eats!

🎥 Watch the reel here

South Sydney at Dogs Day Out, Caringbah

Our South Sydney group had a stall at Dogs Day Out at Caringbah Markets on Sunday 26th of July. They had a fantastic time talking with so many members and supporters of the community about who we are and what we stand for, and the local pups certainly did not miss out, trotting off with a free AJP dog biscuit.

They were also joined by our incredible MP Emma Hurst, who dropped by the stall to join the volunteers and speak with members of the public. A massive thank you to our amazing volunteers who came out to set up, run the stall and chat with local dog lovers all day. We could not do it without you!

South West Sydney at Sage Village

A huge thank you to everyone who joined our South West Sydney group at Sage Village on Sunday 12th of July. The group spent the afternoon with passionate members and supporters, talking about how to keep building a stronger movement for animals across South West Sydney.

A special thanks to our MP Emma Hurst for joining, sharing updates from Parliament, answering questions and hearing directly from members about the issues that matter most.

These local catch ups are a wonderful way to meet like minded people and you can be involved in building the future of our movement! 

Becoming a member connects you straight to your local regional group and you can start getting connected and making a difference for animals, people and the planet.

Join the call for letterboxing

Letterboxing is one of the simplest and most effective ways to help spread the word about the Animal Justice Party.

Most people have no idea animals have a voice in Parliament. Letterboxing is how we tell them, one street at a time. With the election ahead of us, that has never mattered more. 

Time to get your diary, planner, phone or a good old wall calendar out and pencil these in.

Check out each event's Facebook page for more details, or drop us an email at [email protected] if you have questions or want to let us know you're coming. 

Politics and Popcorn with Emma Hurst MP

Join Emma for an exclusive members-only conversation ahead of a preview screening of the documentary Sentient at Tower Cinemas, Newcastle.

The Conversation (Members Only)

Sunday 23 August | 2:45pm – 3:45pm
Upstairs Foyer, Tower Cinemas
FREE – RSVP required

Emma will discuss the fight for animals in Parliament, her work to end animal experimentation, and what's next for animals in NSW.

Please Note: RSVP for the conversation is separate to the screening ticket. Places are limited for both.

Not a member yet? Join the Animal Justice Party NSW here to attend.

Sentient Screening

Sunday 23 August | 4:00pm
Tower Cinemas | $20 per ticket

A powerful and essential watch, which explores animal experimentation through the story of primatologist Dr Lisa Jones-Engel.

More upcoming events for August

Stop the Brumby Cull Rally

Thursday 6 August | 1pm - 3pm
View Facebook Event

Newcastle-Hunter & Central Coast at Warners Bay Markets

Saturday 8 August | 9am – 2pm
View Facebook Event

Dog Lovers Festival

Saturday 22-23 August | 9:30am-5pm
View Facebook Event

We have many events coming up and more to be added for August so make sure to visit our events page for updates!

⭐ Meet our Cover Star: The Common Wombat

This sturdy digger was photographed in Kangaroo Valley, NSW.

Wombats are ecosystem engineers. Their powerful claws aerate soil and improve water penetration, and their burrows shelter other wildlife, with recent research finding those burrows are a vital refuge after bushfires. Yet these Australian icons face mounting pressure from habitat loss, vehicle strikes and disease, with sarcoptic mange the single biggest health threat. Protecting them means preserving connected corridors of native vegetation across NSW.

Keep Emma in NSW Parliament Fighting for Animals

With your help, Emma can keep driving this progress and ensure animals remain firmly on the political agenda.

Your donation today helps power the movement she leads, and builds the foundation for the victory animals so desperately need, and that is getting Emma re-elected for another 8 years.

In solidarity with all animals,

The Animal Justice Party NSW Team and NSW State Committee

As always, thank you for all you do for animals.

The Animal Justice Party NSW Team