Lynda Stoner, Australian TV’s glamour girl of the 1970s, is running for senate at the 2016 federal election

LYNDA STONER is standing for the Senate as a candidate for the Animal Justice Party hoping to “give animals a voice’’. The former actress was one of Australia’s favourite TV glamour girls in the ’70s.

Lynda Stoner is standing for the Senate on the Animal Justice Party ticket.

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IT’s a long way from her role as a curvaceous blonde on shows like Cop Shop, Young Doctors and Prisoner but actor Lynda Stoner is hoping to gain a seat in the Senate.

The Mosman resident, whose acting break came as one of Paul Hogan’s sexy sidekicks, has sacrificed her acting career for decades in favour of being an animal rights campaigner.

She is standing for the Senate as a candidate for the Animal Justice Party hoping to “ give animals a voice’’

“More than 80 per cent of decisions made by politicians have a bearing on animals.’’ she said.

Lynda Stoner with fellow Cop Shop star Terry Donovan.

Stoner’s interest in animal welfare began in the early 1970s when she was acting in Cop Shop and saw a film clip of young harp seals being clubbed and skinned, sometimes while still alive.

“I couldn’t stop thinking about it,’’ she said.

Stoner said she looked around in vain among the acting fraternity for support on animal welfare issues and her refusal to eat meat.

“Actor Gerard Kennedy was the only one who had taken a stand and didn’t eat meat — no-one else understood,’’ she said.

Initially, Stoner joined such organisations as the Wilderness Society but it was not until she joined Animal Liberation that she found her niche.

Her life shifted from film sets to fervent campaigning against such practices as battery hens and intensive piggeries.

Stoner as Nurse Kim Barrington on Young Doctors.

Stoner was one of Australia’s highest-paid TV actresses.

Stoner once admitted that her days at the Animal Liberation could often be harrowing — looking at photograph after photograph of animal cruelty.

She has previously stood unsuccessfully for a seat in the NSW Parliament but her current Senate bid has been inspired by a number of factors, including the success of Animal Justice Party senator Mark Pearson.

“I am also excited by the fact that more and more Australians recognise that animals need a voice,’’ she said.

“First you are ignored, then people get annoyed and then they change.”

Stoner has switched her priority from acting to animal welfare.

But Stoner accuses politicians of selling out animals in favour of powerful and profitable industry lobbies.

“Industries like the pork industry have way too much clout,’’ she said.

Although a NSW bill, Stoner is also incensed by the new NSW Biosecurity Act which imposes million-dollar fines and possible jail sentences on animal rights campaigners for actions such as filming farming practices.

She says the act is repressive and is a “fascist’’ move against animal rights campaigners.

Stoner claims the act gives police the right to, with little provocation, raid offices of organisations like Animal Liberation.

“We have always been a peaceful organisation — harming people or property is the very antithesis of what we are about,’’ she said.

NSW Animal Justice Party senator Mark Pearson.

Stoner is vehemently opposed to practices such as the live export of animals which she claims exposes livestock to “unspeakable cruelty”.

As a single policy party, Stoner says members are allowed to vote on other issues, such as gay marriage, according to their conscience.

Despite her shift in careers, Stoner says she looks back on her career in both television and theatre with affection.

“I look back on those days with huge fondness,’’ she said.

“On shows like Cop Shop, we were a tight-knit group and there was lots of laughter and camaraderie. I am also grateful for the public profile it gave me so that I could speak up for animals”.

Details: animaljusticeparty.org