It's clear now, animal rights are centre stage again in Australia, following extensive protests against animal cruelty in farming practices, and slaughter facilities across the country.

Community sensitivities are shifting to green on this subject, along with an aversion to the use of coal.

Labor is alert to it, but apparently not the Liberals, who as usual, drag their feet behind community sentiment.

If Liberals were to be honest, many conservative voters are actually behind the current animal rights protesters.

Along with the need to focus on this point, Liberals need to re- engineer a softer approach to the environment. There are votes to be won and lost on both these topics.