Andy Meddick
Andy Meddick | |
|---|---|
 Meddick in 2022. | |
| Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Western Victoria Region | |
| In office 24 November 2018 – 26 November 2022 | |
| Preceded by | James Purcell |
| Succeeded by | Sarah Mansfield |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 April 1964 Gosford, New South Wales, Australia |
| Political party | Animal Justice Party |
| Residence(s) | Torquay, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation | Crane Operator Politician |
Andy Meddick (born 5 April 1964)[1] is a former Australian politician. He was Animal Justice Party member of the Victorian Legislative Council since 2018 until 2022, representing Western Victoria Region,[2] and was the first politician elected in Victoria on an animal protection platform.
Career
Meddick previously worked in construction and was motivated to start his political career when he heard the screams of animals while he worked next to a Laverton pig slaughterhouse in 2013.[3] Meddick began handing out how-to-vote cards for the Animal Justice Party before the 2013 federal election and formed the regional group of the AJP.[3] He contested the federal seat of Corangamite in 2016.[3]
Political views
Meddick has been a strong critic of duck hunting in Victoria.[4] He stated in his maiden speech in 2019 that he wants to work with farmers: "to help them adapt to the changes that our climate emergency will force us all to make".[5] He also supported other members of the Victorian parliament crossbench in calling for a trial for pill testing.[6]
Meddick has opposed the culling of kangaroos, instead demanding in parliament that pest populations be 'relocated.'[7]
According to The Age, between November 2018 and November 2021, Meddick voted with the Andrews Government's position 83.2% of the time, the most of any Legislative Council crossbencher.[8]
Personal life
Meddick is the father of two transgender children.[9]
References
- ^ Who's Who in Australia. ConnectWeb. 2019.
- ^ "Western Victoria". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ a b c McCubbing, Gus (29 November 2018). "Animal Justice candidate for Western Victoria's political career launched by disturbing experience". The Standard. Retrieved 21 November 2021.
- ^ Victoria's duck hunt season reduced: Weekly Times Now article
- ^ Animal Justice MP Andy Meddick wants to 'work with farmers': Weekly Times Now article
- ^ Crossbench to use numbers to pressure Victorian Government to introduce pill testing: ABC article
- ^ Andy Meddick, Western Victoria (7 October 2021). "Kangaroo Control" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). Parliament of Victoria. pp. 3651–3652.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Sakkal, Paul (26 November 2021). "'Is this what compliant looks like?': Victoria's crossbench conflict". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
- ^ Starcevic, Seb (27 August 2020). "'Both are perfect' says Australian lawmaker with two trans children". Reuters. Retrieved 21 November 2021.