[12] The party aims to give animals constitutional protection based on their sentience, as opposed to their instrumental value.

[20] At the 2019 New South Wales election the AJP increased its primary vote to 1.95% of the state total and winning a second seat filled by Emma Hurst MLC.

In 2020, the party's first ever local government representatives were elected: Charlie Vincent in the Alpine Shire and Julie Sloan in the City of Greater Bendigo.

In 2017, Animal Justice Party MP, Mark Pearson was allegedly found to have eaten seafood at a Japanese restaurant located in Sydney.

This incident resulted in backlash from the vegan community of Sydney, particularly on their Facebook pages, where they accused Pearson of being a "traitor" and a "hypocrite".

[24] Notable vegan candidates include Chris Delforce, director of the documentary Dominion,[25] and James Aspey.