Kathleen McLaren, Committee Member

After being made aware of the horrors of factory farming in the 1980’s by Tasmanian activist, Pam Clarke, Kathleen McLaren joined Animal Liberation and soon became a vegetarian.

She soon progressed to veganism as she learned more about institutionalised cruelty and violence inflicted on animal species in the agriculture industry, as well as in many other industries. She began supporting a number of animal rights groups, and continues to do so.

Kathleen began writing and illustrating a children’s picture book “Kitty McSporran Saves the Animals (with the help of her magic cape). Humane Research Australia kindly funded the printing of the book. There have been 3 more children’s books with animal justice themes since then, and she is currently working on a children’s science book. 

In 2003 Kathleen joined Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania plus spent time on the committee. Later she was one of a small group of regular Anonymous for the Voiceless activists in Hobart. This awareness-raising activism continued in the form of Animals Tasmania Outreach until Covid put a temporary halt to it. After reading through the AJP policies Kathleen was very keen to join the Party and has recently joined the committee.