By Luke Voogt
Otway coalition MP Richard Riordan has taken aim at Animal Justice Party (AJP) following the election of its first parliamentarian Andy Meddick.
The Torquay animal activist would be one of “three left-leaning votes“ giving the Andrews Government “easy passage of legislation“, Mr Riordan said.
“I have great concerns around how this new party will negotiate with Daniel Andrews’ new parliament.”
The Liberal MP accused AJP of seeking to abolish livestock production, phase out southwest Victoria’s dairy industry and cease controlling feral animals.
The party’s “weird and wacky policy directions” could influence State Government, after Mr Meddick became its first upper house member with 2.7 per cent of the vote, Mr Riordan said.
“The possibility of (the Andrews State Government) selling out our western Victorian farming communities for short-term political gain is live and real.”
Mr Riordan accused Animal Justice Party of misleading voters of its “real intentions“.
“They spruiked concern for cats and dogs, while keeping very quiet on their real desire to close down our dairy, lamb, beef and chicken industries across rural Victoria,” he said.
But Mr Meddick hit back at “a clearly rattled” Mr Riordan, describing his attack “as at times (an) almost panicked, hysterical rant”.
Mr Riordan had failed to understand the message Victorians had sent the Liberal Party, Mr Meddick said.
The party’s spreading of fear and division saw them become “irrelevant“ in the lower house and lose an upper house member in western Victoria, he said.
“No amount of tantrum throwing or continued fear mongering is going to alter that,” the new Member for Western Victoria said.
“(Mr Riordan’s) statements are both childish and unbefitting an elected representative.”
AJP volunteers acted with “honesty, truth and integrity at all times“, Mr Meddick said.
“Something the Liberal Party might do well to emulate, given the negative campaign they ran, full of their own lies and misinformation.”
Mr Meddick was “ready and willing” to work with “a Government that clearly understands what the vast majority of Victorians want”, he said.
“I look forward to working with all representatives, NGO’s and lobby groups to deliver not only better lives for Victoria’s non-human animals, but greater investment and delivery of much-needed infrastructure and services for rural communities in western Victoria.”
