Georgie Purcell, the sole Animal Justice Party MP in the Victorian Parliament, has used her first term to drive historic legal protections for animals and their owners. Bypassing traditional political gridlock, she has successfully introduced and passed multiple reforms leading into 2026.
Protecting Pets in Family Violence Laws
One of Purcell’s most significant recent achievements came into focus in late 2025. Following a motion she passed earlier in her term, legislation was introduced to the Victorian Parliament officially recognising the abuse or threatened harm of animals as a family violence offence. Because perpetrators often weaponise pets to trap victim-survivors in abusive homes, this landmark reform enables courts to include pet ownership, care, and safety conditions directly in Family Violence Intervention Orders (FVIOs).
"Justice for Murphy" and Shelter Reform
Purcell recently secured a major victory for animal rescue transparency by passing a motion demanding urgent reform of behavioural euthanasia in shelters. Sparked by the heartbreaking story of Murphy—a 12-week-old puppy euthanised despite having willing foster carers—Purcell’s motion directs the government to establish independent oversight of euthanasia decisions, mandate offers to rescue groups before animals are put down, and require quarterly public reporting on shelter outcomes.
Keeping People and Pets Together
Recognising that pets are family, Purcell passed a law ensuring that residents in retirement villages legally retain the right to live with their companion animals. Further cementing the human-animal bond, she successfully overturned an archaic state regulation, now allowing Victorians to be legally buried alongside their pets.
Industry Accountability: Greyhounds and Livestock
Purcell has maintained heavy legislative pressure on commercial industries. She successfully passed a motion mandating whole-of-life tracking for every racing greyhound in Victoria, alongside much stricter reporting obligations regarding injuries and deaths on the track. Throughout 2026, she has also been campaigning heavily for the urgent introduction of the Animal Care and Protection Bill to drastically increase penalties for livestock cruelty after exposing systemic failures and minimal fines for mass neglect on farms.