Lisa Baker | Former WA MP and President of Stop Live Exports

Born and bred West Australian and former member of the WA Parliament, Lisa Baker, has had a distinguished career, hallmarked by the energy and tenacity with which she has championed issues including equality, LGBTQIA+ rights and animal welfare.

And now the international expert in rights-based policy and former MLA – who represented her WA electorate of Maylands for 17 years – has taken up her next challenge, as the newly appointed President of not-for-profit, Australia-wide animal advocacy group Stop Live Exports.

“It’s no secret that I’m a strong opponent of live animal export in all its forms,” explains Lisa who, prior to joining the WA Parliament, worked on economic development contracts across Asia and the Pacific for several United Nations agencies, before returning to WA to become the CEO of the Western Australian Council of Social Service.

“In fact, all the way back in 2015 I created WA Labor’s first public discussion paper – Strengthening Animal Welfare in WA – which included opposition to the trade.

“I have often chosen to work at the grassroots level with NGOs as I believe this is a most effective and honest home for activation and engagement. Over the years, I’ve been very comfortable attending anti-live export rallies and protests, as they reflect the dominant views of my electorate who remain overwhelmingly opposed to the live export trade.

“And so when I was invited to take up the position of President, I was honoured to continue the fight to help end the live export of all animals.”

Lisa attributes her compassion and affinity for all animals to her parents, who made sure she was surrounded by four legged friends at a young age, particularly dogs and horses.

She learnt to care for horses as a child, and her passion for all things equestrian has become a lifelong dedication. Today the animal advocate is also a highly trained and experienced International Para Dressage Judge and Steward who specialises in all aspects of equine welfare. 

“In 2008, when I first mentioned the word “sentience’ in relation to animals in the parliament, my colleagues asked what I meant by the word,” recalls Lisa, whose formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Graduate Diploma in International Development studies – Economics, and who is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

“Fundamentally, I’m an optimist and I’m thankful that our society has certainly come a long way since then.” 

Improving the lives of all animals is one of Lisa’s lifelong passions. To date she has successfully achieved many animal welfare milestones in Western Australia, including:

• Convening the Parliamentary Friends of Greyhounds group and pressing an end to greyhound racing, 
• Calling for a review of existing animal welfare laws to include recognition of sentience, and the creation of an independent Commission for Animal Welfare and many improved enforcement provisions,
• Creating and delivering world-first legislation to end to puppy farming in WA,
• Proposing the establishment of WA’s Animal Welfare Grant program, which has already distributed more than $3.5 million to support animal rescue groups,
• Creating the Saving Lives annual event in the WA Parliament, which celebrates the work of the thousands of volunteers who support animal rescue and rehoming in WA.

Over the last five years, Lisa has also championed the nascent industry referred to as alternative or complimentary protein foods and recently released the report Transforming the Food System – Opportunities for Western Australia. This details the industry across Australia and demonstrates how the regulatory system should be developed to support the future of food, and the role played by alternative and complementary proteins in climate action, animal advocacy and food justice.

And so, with such entrepreneurism and a catalogue of achievements in animal advocacy, what does this veteran of politics and stalwart of improved animal welfare standards have in her sights as President of Australia’s dedicated not-for-profit group, focused on ending live exports?

“The community has spoken and been heard by the Australian government, and we are finally seeing the phase out of live sheep exports from Australia, which is now legislated to end on 1 May 2028,” says Lisa.

“Without doubt, the suffering inherent in the live sheep export trade is unacceptable and deeply cruel, which is why it had to end.  And yet the same can be said about all animals who are sent from our shores to countries with next to no animal welfare standards, where they may be slaughtered without being stunned.

“Over many years, Stop Live Exports has shown courage, integrity and persistence at a grassroots level in helping to achieve this monumental ban on live sheep export, and the Australian community constantly tells us that they want so much more.

“My commitment is to prepare the organisation for the next fight – the release of all sentient animals trapped in the live export trade.

“I chose to adopt the words of Australia’s ‘poet laureate’, singer-songwriter, Nick Cave, when he coined the term “radical optimist” to describe himself, and this is how I define my commitment to animals.

“I believe in radical optimism – this planet, humans and animals must learn to coexist with compassion and respect. Animals deserve our respect and care – they are all worth defending.”