The Animal Justice Party ACT will contest the countback process for the Brindabella Legislative Assembly vacancy formerly held by ACT Greens MLA Johnathan Davis, who resigned earlier this month.

“The voters for Brindabella need to know they are not being taken for granted, and they will have a real choice when casting their vote to protect our environment,” Animal Justice Party candidate Robyn Soxsmith said.

Ms Soxsmith stood in the 2020 election. Then, she described herself as a long-time Kambah resident and a progressive advocate for animals and the LGTBIQ community for more than 25 years. Retired from the federal public service, she devotes her time and experience to social justice causes.

Her advocacy includes animal protection committee work, direct action, and running a regular social group for women, and co-founding an association to “expose the cruelty of the annual kangaroo massacre” in Canberra.

“The Greens assume they will replace Johnathan Davis with his former staff member Laura Nuttall when Elections ACT undertakes the countback process this week,” Ms Soxsmith said.

“They assume they will win seats at the ACT Election next October, because voters don’t know about their support for the cruel and unnecessary annual slaughter of kangaroos during the ironically named ‘conservation cull’.

“By participating in the countback, I am signalling to all ACT voters and the Brindabella electorate that the Animal Justice Party is serious about protecting our wildlife and ending cruelty to animals.

“Sadly, the Greens are not. They continue to support the kangaroo cull, and as recently as this week, have publicly committed to the Government program that has killed over 40,000 kangaroos in Canberra, including the decapitation and clubbing of over 10,000 joeys.

“Greens MLA Rebecca Vassarotti has overseen the cruel killing of over 4,000 joeys in just three years as Environment Minister

“The Greens should do better. The voters should get better from them.

“If Laura Nuttall wants to show she cares for our environment, and is more than simply an aspiring career politician, she can use Tuesday’s countback and her time in the Assembly to disavow the kangaroo slaughter and work to end it.”