Caring for Animals & Our Climate: Make Your Vote Count
In Partnership with Vets for Climate Action
Why Your Vote Counts
We Need To Talk About Politics (Vetanswers Blog Post)
By Elise Anderson, VfCA Regional Lead
When it comes to climate change, we can’t afford to be too polite to talk about politics. Veterinary professionals have an important role to play in letting our elected representatives know that climate change is hurting the animals we love, and that we want them to take action to prevent further harm.
A Setback for the Global Climate Movement
Many of my friends and family were surprised by how crushed I was by the result in the recent US election. There’s nothing you can do about it, they said, there’s no point worrying about it. It’s not even our country, it won’t affect us that much. But the reality is, politics – whether it is going on halfway around the world, or whether it is here in our own backyard – dictates policy, and that does have a direct impact on all of our lives, especially when it comes to climate change.
Make Your Vote Count: Tools that can help
Build A Ballot Tool: Plan how you’re going to vote on election day
This is a brilliant tool!
If you want to make your vote count by voting for candidates with values that align with yours, but don’t know where to start, then you’ll love this new tool.
Build a Ballot is a web-based tool that walks you through a series of questions to create a personalised voting plan.
How it works
Answer a few quick questions to discover which candidates and parties are your best match. You can select as many options as you like for each question. Then, create and save your own voting plan.
You don’t have to give any identifiable information, unless you want to send your ballot to yourself.
If you have more questions, visit the FAQ page HERE and follow them on Instagram HERE.
The Conversation: Policy Tracker
Your guide to the major policy issues of the 2025 election.
How will Labor, the Coalition, the Greens and the independents make Australia better?
ABC Vote Compass 20205 Australian Federal Election
Vote Compass is a tool developed by political scientists to help you explore how your views compare to parties and candidates.
Vote Compass surveys users on their political views and then calculates their alignment with the policy positions of each of the candidates running for election.
Your Vote Compass results are intended to help you explore how you compare with the candidates on a range of public policy issues.
Resources & More Information
What is preferential voting and how does it work? Your guide to making your vote count (The Conversation)
“For each Australian federal election, there are two different ways you get to vote.
Whether you vote early, by post or on polling day on May 3, each eligible voter will be given two ballot papers: one for the House of Representatives (the “lower house”) and one for the Senate (the “upper house”). Each of these two ballots uses a slightly different system, so it’s worth understanding how your numbered boxes translate into real results.
Knowing how preferences work is key to making your vote count, before you get to enjoy your hard-earned democracy sausage.”
What’s ahead for global animal health in 2025? Seven key areas to watch (The Animal Echo)
As 2025 unfolds, the world of animal health is brimming with challenges and innovations. From combating antimicrobial resistance to tackling the effects of climate change, the sector is adapting at an impressive pace. Let’s take a closer look at seven top trends shaping the field this year.
Mixed turtle hatchling season highlights risks of increasing heat (Biodiversity Council)
Northern Australia’s coastlines are important places for marine turtle nesting. Monitoring has revealed that it is a good year for loggerhead turtle hatchlings in Queensland, but things are going badly in WA’s Pilbara region, with extreme weather events taking a heavy toll on flatback turtle hatchlings there this year.