Animals are victims of domestic and family violence too. Today in Parliament, Abigail passed a motion acknowledging Lucy's Project's 2024 online conference, which gathered experts worldwide to discuss the impact of domestic and family violence on both people and animals and the importance of animal-inclusive frontline services.
Abigail said:
I move:
(1) That this House notes that:
- Lucy's Project, a charity that aims to improve the safety of people and animals experiencing domestic and family violence, held their 2024 online conference from 16 to 17 October 2024, and attendees gathered to discuss the impact of domestic and family violence on both people and animals, and the action needed to protect animals and people from domestic and family violence; and
- the conference heard from leading experts from across the world about animals as victim-survivors of domestic and family violence in their own right, the connection between animal abuse and domestic and family violence, the benefits of animal-inclusive frontline services for human and animal victim-survivors, and the role of governments, law enforcement and animal services in enhancing the safety and wellbeing of animals and people experiencing domestic and family violence.
(2) That this House affirms that animals are victims of domestic and family violence in their own right, and deserve to be protected from all forms of violence and considered in domestic and family violence policy responses.
(3) That this House commends the work of Lucy's Project in driving critical work to protect animals and people from domestic and family violence and ensure the safety, healing and recovery of all animal and human victim-survivors.
Motion agreed to.
Read the transcript in Hansard here.
23 October 2024