Animal Justice Party

See how we've assessed them for all policy statements included in the Build a Ballot tool. Want to suggest a revision? Send us an email at tool@buildaballot.org.au

Policy

Evidence of support

Support level

Policy

Budget management

Give the anti-corruption commission more funding and powers

Policy details

This policy would increase funding and extend the investigative powers of Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), which investigates public-sector corruption and police misconduct. (Source) This policy would provide additional funding beyond the September 2026 reforms now allow IBAC to investigate serious misconduct beyond criminal offences and trace public money through private contractors and subcontractors. (Source) IBAC investigates serious corruption, including the misuse of public money, (Source) so giving it more funding is intended to help save public funds over time.

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party’s national policy backs anti-corruption bodies and calls for stronger state-level watchdogs, but doesn’t mention funding or specific powers. (Source) Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell's contributions to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Amendment Bill 2026 supported strengthening powers and increasing funding for IBAC. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie has supported every anti-corruption measure proposed in the parliament, including voting for a Royal Commission into the construction industry in February 2026 – almost 6 months before the government called one. She has also consistently called for independent police oversight, being the first MP in the 60th parliament to call for the release of the final report from the systemic review of police oversight. She also called for an explanation over a $2m war chest from a Big Build site to fight against the recommendation from a parliamentary inquiry to ban duck shooting in Victoria, (Source) and has regularly met with the Centre for Public Integrity throughout her term.”

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Budget management

Significantly reduce the size of the public service

Policy details

This policy would reduce the number of staff in Victoria’s government departments and agencies, focusing on back-office roles, through a 10-year hiring freeze and natural attrition. (Source) It claims savings of about $2.2 billion a year on average, compared with about $1.25 billion a year estimated by the Silver Review, an independent review of Victoria’s public service, which the government has partly committed to acting on. (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie Purcell is a proud CPSU member, and has consistently stood alongside the public service. Georgie’s vote and contributions to the Entities Legislation Amendment (Consolidation and Other Matters) Bill 2025 made clear her opposition to the Government’s response to the Silver Review. (Source) As well as opposing the Entities Legislation, she has been outspoken on the government’s plans to abolish VicHealth, (Source) and publicly led the calls in parliament against Zoos Vic job cuts. (Source) She has also criticised a range of mergers proposed under public service cuts.” (Source)

Support
Strongly oppose
Policy

Budget management

Increase taxes on gambling, including pokies, online betting and casinos

Policy details

This policy would require gambling businesses to pay more tax on revenue from online betting, poker machines and casino games in Victoria. These activities are taxed separately, so implementing the policy would involve changes to several tax rates. (Source) Current gambling tax revenue is forecast at $2.9 billion in 2026–27. (Source) This policy would also end the arrangement that directs half of Victoria’s wagering and betting tax revenue to the racing industry, keeping that money in the state budget instead. (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “There is nobody that has been more outspoken on gambling in the 60th parliament, particularly when it comes to animal racing, than Georgie Purcell.

The Animal Justice Party voted in support of raising the Point of Consumption Tax (PoCT) in the 59th parliament, and negotiated amendments alongside the crossbench to increase the amount to be distributed to the Hospitals and Charities Fund.

In 2023, Georgie voted and spoke against the government’s decision to increase racing’s share of the PoCT from 35 to 50% (by increasing the rate to 15%). (Source) She also supported an amendment to remove racing codes as beneficiaries of the PoCT tax.

Georgie has consistently called for the complete defunding of gambling and animal racing through the PoCT, consistently stating that the levy on wagering and betting should be distributed to services that benefit all Victorians.

In 2025, Georgie raised a motion calling for a blanket ban on all gambling advertising. (Source)

Ahead of this election, Georgie has released an independent costing from the Victorian Parliamentary Budget office that revealed Victoria would save $3b over ten years by defunding racing. (Source) She is quoted in the above article saying: ‘In a cost of living crisis, when the government is cutting essential services to healthcare, education, crime prevention and family violence support services, it simply doesn’t pass the pub test to be wasting cash on propping up gambling harm.’

Georgie also released individual costings on tax-payer subsidies into jumps racing and greyhound racing – calling for both to be defunded.” (Source) (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Budget management

Scale back the Suburban Rail Loop

Policy details

This policy would reduce the scope of Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), while continuing to build the underground rail line between Cheltenham and Box Hill. (Source) Underground connections to existing stations at Box Hill and Glen Waverley would be replaced by surface transfers, alongside cuts to pedestrian bridges, a second entrance at Clayton and some parking and precinct works. (Source) This policy is targeting $2 billion in total savings: approximately $1 billion from these changes and a further $1 billion to be identified through an independent technical review.

Evidence

We could not find evidence of the Animal Justice Party’s position.

Support
N/A
Policy

Housing

Build 80,000 new social housing dwellings over the next decade

Policy details

This policy would build 80,000 new public and community homes in Victoria over ten years, (Source) with interim milestones to track progress, (Source) through steady direct investment in public housing and grants to community housing organisations. It aims to lift social housing from 3% of Victoria’s housing stock, the lowest share of any state or territory, (Source) to the national average of 4.5%. (Source) Social housing includes both public housing (run by government) and community housing (run by not-for-profits). (Source) (Source)

Evidence

Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell told Parliament in December 2025 that the government must increase its supply of social housing and welcomed new powers to prescribe social and affordable housing. (Source) Their national policy supports rapidly increasing social and affordable housing supply, without a target. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie has:

  • Voted to protect existing public housing from demolition and privatisation.
  • Supported increasing public housing supply.
  • Supported measures to prioritise homebuyers over property investors.
  • Raised housing affordability and homelessness through her parliamentary work.
  • Advocated for 500 supported housing places for young people experiencing mental ill health, as recommended by the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System.”
Support
Somewhat support
Policy

Housing

Replace upfront stamp duty on residential properties with a yearly land tax

Policy details

This policy would gradually phase out upfront stamp duty on homes and replace it with a yearly land tax on all residential properties, based on the value of the land. Under this policy, land tax would likely also apply to the home people live in, which is currently exempt. (Source) Infrastructure Victoria recommends making this change using a long-term approach “to avoid disruptions to government revenue and the housing market”. (Source) Victoria is already switching commercial and industrial properties from stamp duty to a land tax over ten years. (Source)

Evidence

AJP's national housing position supports reforming tax laws and planning policies to improve housing availability and affordability, without naming stamp duty or land tax. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie chaired a parliamentary inquiry into land transfer fees (stamp duty), which recommended replacing stamp duty with a broad-based land tax. (Source) (Source) A PBO costing requested by Georgie as Chair of the Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee is also available.” (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Housing

Cap yearly rent increases at the rate of inflation

Policy details

This policy would cap yearly rent increases at the rate of inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index. The cap would apply to the property rather than the tenancy, so landlords could not evict a tenant to reset the rent at a higher level. (Source) The ACT is the only Australian jurisdiction with a similar policy, where landlords need the tenant’s written agreement or tribunal approval for rent increases that exceed Canberra’s rental inflation rate by more than 10%. (Source)

Evidence

AJP's national housing position supports limiting rent increases so they are fair and in line with CPI and cost of living. (Source) It is also in line with the state election platform.

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Housing

Raise the foreign purchaser duty on residential property

Policy details

This policy would raise the foreign purchaser additional duty above its current rate of 8%. (Source) Foreign buyers would pay this duty on top of normal land transfer duty, on the share of a residential property they buy. (Source) A federal ban stops most foreign buyers from purchasing established homes until 30 June 2029, (Source) so the higher duty would mainly apply to new homes.

Evidence

We could not find evidence of the Animal Justice Party’s position.

Support
N/A
Policy

Energy

Extend the operating life of coal-fired power stations

Policy details

This policy would involve the state government taking steps to keep one or more of Victoria’s coal-fired power stations generating electricity beyond their planned closure dates, such as through financial support, agreements with operators or changes to regulations. Yallourn is scheduled to close in mid-2028 and Loy Yang A in June 2035, so extending their operating lives would mean changing those plans and arrangements with their operators. (Source)(Source)

Evidence

AJP's national energy and natural gas policies say coal and gas cannot be part of a final clean energy solution and call for a rapid transition (15 to 20 years). (Source) (Source)

Support
Strongly oppose
Policy

Energy

Support households to switch from gas to electric alternatives

Policy details

This policy would use public funding to help incentivise households replace gas appliances for heating, hot water and cooking, with efficient electric alternatives. Support could take the form of rebates, discounts, zero-interest loans or installation assistance, including for rooftop solar, battery storage and emerging plug-in solar and battery technologies. Victoria already offers discounts on heat pumps and cooktops through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program. (Source)(Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “The Animal Justice Party recognises the important role electrification and the transition away from gas plays in fighting the climate crisis. The party platform supports ending all offshore oil and gas drilling and supports the transition to renewable energy.”

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Energy

Build transmission to connect renewable energy to homes and businesses

Policy details

This policy would build new electricity transmission lines — high-voltage power lines that carry electricity over long distances from wind farms and solar farms to the local networks that supply homes and businesses. (Source) Planned projects include the Western Renewables Link, a proposed 190-kilometre line from near Ararat in western Victoria to Melbourne’s north-west. (Source) This policy aims to connect new renewable energy as coal-fired power stations close, including Yallourn, which EnergyAustralia plans to close in mid-2028. (Source)

Evidence

AJP's national energy policy says renewable projects' impacts on animals and habitat must be weighed in selecting energy sources. (Source) Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell voted in favour of the National Electricity (VicGrid) Bill, (Source) and spoke on the VicGrid Stage 2 Reform Bill on 28 Aug 2025, saying more transmission is needed while criticising the Government's community engagement and land access provisions. (Source) Georgie also said: “Victoria must transition to renewable energy, and we must do so as quickly as possible.” (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Energy

Give local communities a share of renewable energy projects

Policy details

This policy would require companies building large wind, solar and battery projects to offer locals a share of the project or its profits. A share of the project means locals own part of it, while profit sharing means locals receive a portion of the project’s earnings. (Source) From July 2027, Victoria will ask companies to consider community co-ownership, but they will not be required to offer it. (Source) (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie supported an amendment to broaden the REZ Community Energy Fund, so it could fund not only renewable energy projects but also local biodiversity programs and research. The amendment was agreed to. She questioned the government about how community grant decisions would be made and sought confirmation that existing funding for local renewable energy projects and biodiversity mitigation would continue alongside the new fund. In her speech, she recognised that regional communities host much of Victoria's energy infrastructure and argued that the transition must take account of its impacts on those communities.” (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Education

Cap government funding for private schools at the established standard

Policy details

This policy would cap total public funding for each Victorian private school at 100% of its Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), the estimate of how much funding a school needs to meet its students’ needs. (Source) On average, Victoria’s private schools are funded slightly above their SRS (about 102.5% in 2023), while Victoria’s public schools are funded below it (about 90%). (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “While Georgie has not specifically made comments on private school funding, she voted against an opposition motion calling on the government to reverse its decision to remove the payroll tax exemption for 110 non-government schools charging annual fees above $7,500.” (Source)

Support
Somewhat support
Policy

Education

Expand government-run childcare centres in regional and high-need areas

Policy details

This policy would open more government-run childcare centres, mainly in regional and high-need areas. It would build on Early Learning Victoria, the government’s existing childcare provider, which is already building 50 centres that offer kinder and long day care in one place. (Source) It aims to help families in “childcare deserts”, where more than three children compete for every childcare place. (Source)

Evidence

Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell asked the Minister for Children to commit to a new integrated early years facility in Hopetoun after the local childcare centre closed, saying “regional Victorians should not be left behind because they live outside of Melbourne.” (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie also worked to try and save a family daycare centre in Castlemaine, within her electorate, and worked extensively alongside local families. Expanding regional childcare is part of her local platform in targeted areas of need."

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Education

Establish 10 technical colleges to train secondary students in trades

Policy details

This policy would establish 10 full-time technical colleges, each training up to 500 students in Years 10 to 12 in trades such as plumbing, electrical and carpentry, as well as healthcare and hospitality. (Source) The colleges would sit on existing secondary school and TAFE sites and, like South Australia’s technical colleges, (Source) partner with local industry to create pathways into apprenticeships.

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party supports affordable and accessible skills training. Recognising this, Georgie voted in favour of the Education and Training Reform Amendment (Free TAFE Guarantee) Bill 2026 enshrining free TAFE in law

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Education

Fully fund public schools to the established standard

Policy details

This policy would ensure Victorian government schools are funded to 100% of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), the estimate of how much funding a school needs to meet its students’ needs. (Source) Under an agreement between the Victorian and Australian governments, Victoria is lifting its share from about 70% to 75% of the SRS, and the Australian Government from 20% to 25%, so full funding will be achieved by 2034. (Source) (Source) Principals say schools currently rely on voluntary parent contributions to help fill the funding gap. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party has provided evidence that they support fully funding public schools to the standard. The Parents Victoria funding scorecard was provided, and is soon to be made public - this page will be updated once a link is available.

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Community Safety

Toughen bail laws for serious and repeat offending

Policy details

This policy would make it harder for people accused of serious offences or repeat offending to receive bail. (Source) Victoria tightened its bail laws in March 2025, applying stricter bail tests to more serious offences and to people who reoffend while on bail. (Source) Further proposed changes include a “one-strike” rule requiring bail refusal for repeat offending, stronger penalties for breaching bail and extending breach-of-bail offences to children.

Evidence

In March 2025 and August 2025, Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell spoke and voted against two Bail Amendment Bills, citing harm to Aboriginal Victorians and rising remand numbers. (Source) (Source) In response to the Government’s claims that the March 2025 Bill would see Victoria have the toughest bail laws in the country, Purcell said that is “something to be deeply ashamed of.” (Source)

Support
Strongly oppose
Policy

Community Safety

Increase investment in early intervention programs for vulnerable young people

Policy details

This policy would increase state funding for early intervention programs, such as mentoring, family support and help to reconnect with school, work and community, with the aim to keep young people out of the youth justice system. As the Auditor-General found no evidence that Victoria’s existing Youth Crime Prevention Program reduces offending, (Source) this policy would also focus on measurable targets and improving data.

Evidence

In March 2026, Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell told Parliament that the Supporting Stable and Strong Families Bill “is about enacting the exact kind of early intervention that is so often spoken about in public policy spaces”, said she would support it, and that “proper resourcing and consistent implementation are required”. (Source) In December 2025 she said “we have seen cuts to critical support services”, naming early intervention programs, bail and parole assistance and youth programs, (Source) and in November 2025 said “many of us have been calling for better early intervention programs for some time now”. (Source) The Animal Justice Party’s national mental health policy emphasises prevention and early intervention. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Community Safety

Increase funding to prevent and respond to family, domestic and sexual violence

Policy details

This policy would increase state funding both to prevent family, domestic and sexual violence, through early intervention and prevention work, and to respond to it, through frontline services such as crisis response, case management, counselling and refuges. Victoria Police recorded 102,830 family violence incidents in the year to June 2026, (Source) and made a record 16,500 family violence arrests. (Source)

Evidence

Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell told Parliament in February 2026 that the party had made “great strides, including securing funding in budgets for pet-friendly crisis accommodation”, and spoke in favour of the Family Violence, Stalking and Other Matters Bill. (Source) In November 2025 she raised a “severe shortage of emergency accommodation that can support animals beyond cats and dogs”, leaving survivors with “impossible choices”. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie’s election platform also has a policy for sustainable five year funding models for gender equity and family and domestic violence frontline services. It also has a policy for a Minister for Gender Equity. She is the only MP to score full marks on GENVIC’s election forum scorecard.

Also included in Georgie’s platform:

  • Establish an independent taskforce to review police decisions to charge as a result of sexual assault complaints and examine barriers to reporting and justice.
  • Allow complainants of sexual offences to pre-record their evidence.
  • Better protect the privacy of counselling notes and confidential communications in sexual assault proceedings.
  • Pass anti-SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) legislation to ensure the legal system can’t be used to silence victim-survivors and journalists.
  • Ensure pets can be safely included in crisis accommodation and support services.
  • Ensure more crisis centres can support the care of animals and implement emergency boarding programs.”
Support
Strongly support
Policy

Community Safety

Expand police stop-and-search powers to seize weapons in public spaces

Policy details

This policy, known as “Jack’s Law”, would allow police to scan anyone in a public place for knives and other metal weapons with a handheld metal detector, without a warrant or suspicion. (Source) Police can currently do this only inside formally declared “designated areas”, such as shopping centres or train stations. (Source) This policy would remove the need to declare an area first. (Source)

Evidence

In December 2025, Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell spoke and voted against the Police and Other Matters Bill, which expands designated-area weapons search powers, saying “police already have a range of existing powers which allow them to do many of the things in this bill” and that such searches “result in profiling and overpolicing”. (Source)

Support
Strongly oppose
Policy

Health

Open 10 free public dental clinics

Policy details

This policy would open 10 free, walk-in public dental clinics across Victoria — seven in Melbourne and three in regional areas — from July 2027. (Source) The clinics would provide free check-ups and treatment such as fillings, root canals and extractions, prioritising people with the most urgent needs, and could treat more than 100,000 people a year. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party’s national healthcare policy supports increased investment in free and affordable dental care. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Health

Build more discharge lounges to ease ambulance ramping

Policy details

This policy would create a fund to build or expand up to 10 discharge lounges in Victorian hospitals, starting with those experiencing the worst overcrowding and ambulance ramping. (Source) In a discharge lounge, patients ready to go home can wait for medication, transport or paperwork, which frees their ward bed for a new patient. (Source) This aims to move patients out of emergency departments faster, so paramedics spend less time waiting outside hospitals. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party supports increased hospital investment to address delays and issues across the hospital ecosystem, including ambulance ramping. Their responses to the Victorian Ambulance Unions election scorecard provides evidence of this perspective, and is yet to be made public.

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Health

Increase funding for community health services

Policy details

Community health services are local services funded by the Victorian Government to provide allied health, counselling and nursing care, with a focus on groups such as children and people with chronic disease. (Source) This policy would increase the government’s core funding for community health services and bush nursing centres, so they can offer more prevention, early detection and care close to where people live. (Source) Over time, this aims to reduce demand for more complex and costly care in hospitals and emergency departments. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party’s national healthcare policy supports “an increase in investment in community health workers”. (Source) In February 2026, Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell opposed the Government’s plan to close VicHealth, arguing prevention pays off over time. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Health

Fund private hospitals to perform more elective surgery for public patients

Policy details

Based on Queensland’s Surgery Connect program, (Source) this policy would let public patients choose to have elective surgery at a private hospital at no cost, through four-year contracts with private hospitals that have spare capacity. (Source) It would cover common procedures such as hip and knee replacements, cataract surgery and colonoscopies, and aims to halve the waiting list by delivering an extra 25,000 surgeries a year.

Evidence

We could not find evidence of the Animal Justice Party’s position.

Support
N/A
Policy

Climate

Establish a climate disaster recovery fund

Policy details

This policy would create an ongoing Victorian fund to pay for clean-up, repairs to community infrastructure and local recovery services after climate disasters such as bushfires, floods and storms. Victoria already shares eligible recovery costs with the Commonwealth, (Source) but this policy would add a dedicated state fund for any disaster.

Evidence

We could not find evidence of the Animal Justice Party’s position regarding a climate disaster recovery fund, but they have adopted the Climate Rescue Accord, which calls for rapid emissions cuts, drawing down greenhouse gases and research into active cooling. (Source) Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell told Parliament in February 2026 that bushfires had affected “vast parts” of her electorate and that “we must act urgently to prevent these events from continuing in the future”. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “In November 2025, Georgie presented a climate emergency petition to parliament calling for stronger action on climate change, including penalties for heavy polluters and restrictions on new coal and gas projects. (Source) She also has a penalty on climate culprits as a policy in her platform.”

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Climate

Strengthen regulations to reduce land clearing on private land

Policy details

This policy would tighten restrictions on removing native vegetation from privately owned land. Victoria already requires a council planning permit to remove native vegetation unless an exemption applies, so the change would strengthen existing controls. (Source) It would also provide dedicated state funding for councils to monitor clearing and enforce the rules, potentially using satellite and aerial imagery, as recommended by the Auditor-General. (Source)

Evidence

Animal Justice Party’s national land clearing policy calls for “an immediate cessation of all land clearing associated with animal agriculture”, habitat protection as “a fundamental and consistent planning principle”, and an enforceable landholder duty of care to animals. (Source) Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell asked the Planning Minister in October 2025 whether they would “amend the Victorian planning provisions to ensure there is no further destruction of native forests”, noting nothing in the planning provisions prohibits logging native forests on private land. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Climate

Legislate a duty of care to protect young people and future generations from climate harm

Policy details

This policy would create a legal duty for Victorian decision-makers to prioritise the health and wellbeing of young people and future generations when assessing coal, oil and gas projects. They would have to assess how a project’s contribution to climate change could harm young people. (Source) Victoria’s Climate Change Act already requires the Minister to consider climate change when deciding whether to approve onshore oil and gas. This policy would add a specific duty focused on children and future generations. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party strongly supports a duty of care to protect young people and future generations from climate harm. Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell and other Legislative Assembly candidates have signed the Duty of Care Campaign’s pledge to support the implementation of a duty in the next Victorian parliament. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Climate

Increase funding and resources for the Country Fire Authority

Policy details

This policy would increase state funding and resources for the Country Fire Authority (CFA), whose volunteer brigades respond to fires and other emergencies across much of rural and regional Victoria. (Source) Additional funding could replace ageing fire trucks, upgrade stations and protective equipment, and provide training and support to recruit and retain volunteers. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party’s national fire management policy calls for adequately funding and staffing firefighting responses. (Source) Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell voted for the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund Bill at second and third reading in May 2025, (Source) and the party says she supported it after securing changes including rebates for CFA and SES volunteers, ringfenced funding for emergency services and annual public reporting. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Transport

Cap tolls at $30 a week for one year

Policy details

This policy would cap weekly toll costs at $30 for cars, motorbikes and light commercial vehicles on CityLink, EastLink and the West Gate Tunnel throughout 2027. (Source) Motorists would keep paying tolls as usual, then claim back what they paid above $30 a week through a quarterly Service Victoria rebate, up to $350 a week or $5,000 a year per vehicle.

Evidence

We could not find evidence of the Animal Justice Party’s position.

Support
N/A
Policy

Transport

Spend 5% of the transport budget on safe, connected bike paths

Policy details

This policy would dedicate 5% of the state transport budget to planning and building safe, separated cycling routes across Melbourne and regional centres. (Source) This 5% would be new funding, on top of existing walking and cycling funding and bike paths already built through major road and level crossing projects.

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party’s national land transport policy prioritises active transport and reallocating road and car park space for “native habitats, cyclists, pedestrians and social connectivity and connections with nature.” (Source) Georgie also played a critical role in getting Black Forest Drive, Woodend (in her electorate) down to a single car line with a bike path. (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Transport

Spend at least $3 billion a year maintaining state roads

Policy details

This policy would guarantee at least $3 billion a year to maintain state-managed roads. The Department of Transport estimated this is the amount needed to stop roads getting worse while replacing ageing assets. (Source) This is nearly three times the $1.04 billion budgeted for 2026–27, (Source) and more than double the $1.39 billion total, once an extra $352 million for pothole repairs is included. (Source) 82% of state roads are in regional Victoria, which also have the highest proportion of roads as being in poor or very poor condition. (Source)

Evidence

We could not find evidence of the Animal Justice Party’s position.

Support
N/A
Policy

Transport

Improve frequency and connections across all Victorian public transport systems

Policy details

This policy would run buses, trains and trams more often across Victoria and make it easier to change between them. Examples include metro trains at least every 20 minutes until midnight and key cross-suburban buses every 20 minutes, (Source) with upgrades to busy interchange stations such as Caulfield and Richmond. (Source) It would also align bus timetables with train and tram timetables so passengers wait less when they change services. (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “As a regional MP, Georgie has consistently advocated for better public transport in Northern Victoria. This includes asking the government to release its business case for a duplication of the Bendigo line (V/Line). (Source) Georgie has also been leading the campaign for better bus routes for school children in her electorate, (Source) currently impacted by the 4.8 km eligibility requirement for student transport support, including the School Bus Program. She is sponsoring a parliamentary petition and also featured in local news.” (Source) (Source)

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Other policies

Pause new AI data centres until protections are in place

Policy details

This policy would temporarily pause approvals and construction of new AI data centres in Victoria until stronger, enforceable safeguards are in place for electricity and water use, the environment, and nearby communities. It aims to give communities time to weigh the risks and benefits, (Source) and give councils and residents a say on future projects. (Source) Victoria’s new planning rules are not yet legally binding, and only cover applications lodged from 23 September 2026, not the state’s 50 existing data centres. (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie Purcell MP’s state election platform has a ‘better planning and sustainable growth’ policy which includes adding a health and wellbeing objective to the planning framework – allowing councils to reject proposals and specifically lists data centres.”

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Other policies

Repeal the Treaty legislation and the First Peoples' Assembly

Policy details

Victoria became the first Australian state to legislate a Treaty with First Peoples in 2025, establishing Gellung Warl, which includes the elected First Peoples’ Assembly. (Source) The Treaty was developed over nearly a decade of extensive community consultation, including elections for the First Peoples' Assembly. Negotiations between the Assembly and the government that were held across Victoria so communities could take part. (Source)(Source) Gellung Warl cannot make or veto laws, but can question ministers and must receive a treaty compatibility statement with every bill. (Source) This policy would repeal that legislation and abolish those bodies.

Evidence

Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell spoke in support of the Statewide Treaty Bill in October 2025, saying “Closing the gap cannot be achieved without treaty” and that “Treaty does not take anything away from anyone”. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Backing Treaty is also in Georgie’s election platform.”

Support
Strongly oppose
Policy

Other policies

Provide free abortion care

Policy details

This policy would remove out-of-pocket costs for medication and surgical abortions before 16 weeks of pregnancy by paying participating private providers to deliver the care. Currently, most abortions in Victoria are provided privately, where patients may pay fees even after Medicare rebates. (Source) This policy would also include travel assistance for eligible patients who need to travel long distances for care. (Source)

Evidence

The Animal Justice Party says the government should “provide safe, affordable and accessible contraception and abortion services as part of the public health system.” (Source) Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell welcomed the recent Labor pledge to make abortion care free. (Source)

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “There’s been no MP that has been more outspoken or pushed harder on abortion accessibility than Georgie, with the policy that has just been committed to by both Labor and the Liberals being the recommendations in a report titled ‘Access In Action’ co-written by Georgie and Rachel Payne (LCV) in 2025. (Source)

Below are some further sources of Georgie’s advocacy:”

Support
Strongly support
Policy

Other policies

Give workers a legal right to work from home two days a week

Policy details

This policy would give eligible Victorian employees a legal right to work from home two days a week where reasonable, with a proportionate entitlement for part-time and regular casual employees. (Source) Employers could refuse on specified grounds, such as duties requiring attendance, significant productivity or safety impacts, or excessive costs, and would have to explain their reasons. (Source) Employees could challenge a refusal through the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission and, if unresolved, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. (Source) On 10 September 2026, the Legislative Council voted to send the bill to a parliamentary committee, so it is not yet law. (Source)

Evidence

Response to Build a Ballot Vic 2026: “Georgie is a regional MP, chronically ill, neurodivergent and a new mum – she understands the importance of working from home for work life balance, families and regional economies, as well as getting women back into the workforce. Georgie has publicly advertised roles in her office stating all roles are hybrid, and the entire Animal Justice Party staff work from home. Georgie made clear that she supports the right to work from home, but the government did not allow enough time for the crossbench to consider amendments to the legislation (which were lengthy and sent the night before the debate). Below is the statement she sent to the media at the time, which was also published by outlets:

‘The government only provided amendments at 5pm on the eve of the vote.

The changes were substantial and the reality is that we weren’t given enough time to give these amendments the consideration they deserve.

While I understand the business sector’s concerns, I also represent a regional community that regularly has to commute into Melbourne. I fundamentally support the right to work from home and the benefit it brings to the lives of so many.

Because of these competing factors, and how badly the government has handled this legislation, it was impossible for me to feel comfortable voting for or against the inquiry and I abstained from the vote.

Anyone who is disappointed in this outcome has the government to blame for it.’”

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