Here, Amanda Dorn questions the WA Government over its funding priorities, with the 2026–27 Budget providing up to $12.5 million to maintain racing distributions if betting revenue falls short, while animal shelters, rescue groups and rehabilitation centres have no equivalent safety net.

She also questions the future of the Animal Welfare Grant Program, which has provided $4.2 million since 2021 but has no funding shown beyond 2026–27.

The Minister’s response did not answer whether future funding for the program had been sought.

Amanda Dorn pays tribute in Parliament to Bobby Kerr, founder of Paradise Pastures sanctuary near Toodyay.

Bobby cares for more than 150 rescued sheep, including over 60 saved from the live export trade. Each has a name and their own story.

During her visit, Amanda met elderly and special-needs sheep, as well as a rescued lamb named Amanda.

She thanked Bobby and her volunteers for their dedication to animals who are too often misunderstood, and for giving them the care and peaceful lives they deserve.

Amanda Dorn questions the WA Government about prescribed burns that cross planned boundaries and the impact these fires have on native animals. In 2025–26, four escapes from DBCA prescribed burns burnt approximately 3,424 hectares.

Amanda also asks what information is collected about wildlife killed or injured during prescribed burns. The Government confirms DBCA does not routinely collect data on individual native animals killed or injured, including when fire crosses a burn boundary.

Here, Amanda Dorn questions the WA Government about repeated cases of young people deliberately harming animals and the recognised link between animal cruelty and violence towards people.

She asks who is responsible for early intervention, what advice the Government has received, and what action is being taken to prevent this disturbing behaviour.

Amanda Dorn raises concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding animal experimentation in Western Australia.

Despite institutions being required to report their animal use, the WA Government does not maintain consolidated data showing how many animals are used, which species are involved, what procedures they endure or the level of suffering caused. WA also has no species specifically prohibited from being used in experimentation.

Amanda calls for greater investment in modern, human-relevant research methods, including organ-on-a-chip technology, human tissue cultures and other animal-free alternatives. She also urges WA to follow New South Wales and prohibit particularly cruel practices such as forced swim and forced smoke inhalation tests.

With taxpayers helping fund medical research, Amanda argues the community deserves greater transparency and accountability. She calls for stronger protections for animals used in science and education and greater investment in research methods that do not rely on animal suffering.

In this parliamentary speech, Amanda Dorn MLC raises serious concerns about the live export ships operating from Western Australian ports, following a major international report exposing an ageing global fleet, ongoing safety failures and poor regulatory oversight.

She highlights the welfare risks animals face during weeks at sea, as well as concerns around maritime safety, environmental compliance and border security.

With cows continuing to be exported live from WA in their tens of thousands, Amanda argues the problems with this trade go far beyond the age or condition of individual ships. She argues, on behalf of the Animal Justice Party, that sentient animals are not cargo and that it is time for live export to end.

Here, Amanda questioned the WA Government about access to veterinary and dog sterilisation services in Aboriginal communities, particularly following the end of funding for Murdoch University’s sterilisation outreach program.

She asked what assistance communities receive to access veterinarians, whether they face any costs, and what coordination is occurring between government departments to ensure free sterilisation outreach services remain available.

Here, Amanda highlighted an often-overlooked consequence of WA’s housing crisis: the impact on companion animals.

With families struggling to find affordable rentals that will accommodate their animals, some are being forced to consider heartbreaking separation.

At the same time, shelters and rescues are already overwhelmed, with many facing a lengthy surrender waiting list.

Amanda highlighted in Parliament that housing insecurity is also an animal welfare issue, and that secure, affordable long-term housing helps keep families together, including the companion animals who are part of them.

Amanda questioned the WA Government about three kangaroos found distressed and paralysed near Alcoa’s Pinjarra refinery, raising concerns about the lack of an independent examination and toxicology testing.

She asked whether samples were preserved for testing and whether the Government would obtain Alcoa’s veterinary and toxicology reports. The Government was unable to provide an answer, committing to respond by the end of the next sitting week.

Amanda Dorn MLC spoke in Parliament about the tragic deaths of greyhounds Rocksmith and Marathon, highlighting major concerns about what happens to racing greyhounds away from the track.

Rocksmith suffered a serious fracture but did not receive veterinary attention until the following day. Marathon died after becoming entangled while being exercised tethered behind a quad bike, despite Racing WA’s own welfare standards prohibiting this practice.

Amanda also raised concerns that RSPCA WA was not notified of Marathon’s death, arguing that serious welfare incidents need independent scrutiny and that these cases demonstrate why WA needs an Independent Office of Animal Protection.

Marking National Threatened Species Day and Biodiversity Month, Hon Amanda Dorn MLC reflected on Western Australia’s extraordinary biodiversity and the growing threats facing some of our most iconic native species.

From numbats, Gilbert’s potoroos and Carnaby’s black-cockatoos to honey possums, western swamp turtles and quokkas, many species are under increasing pressure from habitat loss, development, mining, dieback and climate change.

Amanda also raised concerns about the impact of prescribed burning on threatened wildlife and habitats. While recognising the importance of bushfire management for community safety, she questioned the lack of transparency around animals injured, displaced or killed during large-scale burns, particularly in areas supporting species dependent on mature and long-unburnt habitat.

She called for greater public reporting of the impacts of prescribed burns, stronger consideration of vulnerable wildlife, and fire-management strategies guided by the best available science and First Nations knowledge, including a greater role for Noongar cultural burning practices.

Threatened Species Day is a reminder that extinction is not confined to history. The decisions made today will determine whether future generations inherit landscapes alive with Western Australia’s unique wildlife, forests and ecosystems, or only stories of what has been lost.

With Penguin Island’s little penguin population having declined by a devastating 95%, Amanda Dorn MLC again questioned the WA Government in Parliament about what action it will take to protect this colony.

Amanda asked whether the population would be assessed for threatened species listing and pressed the Government to finally release the Little Penguin Advisory Group’s report, which was delivered in March 2026 but remains unpublished.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC raises serious concerns about Black Mountain’s proposed Valhalla fracking project in the nationally heritage-listed Martuwarra Fitzroy River catchment.

She highlights threats to wildlife and habitat, inadequate baseline fauna data and concerns about consultation with Traditional Custodians.

Amanda warns the project could pave the way for large-scale gas development and calls on the Environment Minister to reject it.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC calls for stronger cat welfare laws in Western Australia to address cat overpopulation and reduce pressure on shelters and rescue organisations.

She highlights the work of Cat Haven, which cares for more than 8,500 cats and kittens annually, and calls for consistent enforcement of desexing, microchipping and registration requirements, affordable desexing, better public education, increased government support, and community participation in the Cat Act review.

Amanda Dorn MLC used a Member’s Statement in Parliament to highlight the growing number of Western Australian waterbirds suffering preventable injuries from fishing hooks, line and discarded tackle.

Drawing on data from Western Australian Seabird Rescue (WASR), Amanda revealed an 80 per cent increase in reported fishing-related injuries and entanglements in just 12 months, rising from 249 to 451 incidents.

Birds can suffer embedded hooks, entanglement, infection, starvation and injuries requiring lengthy veterinary treatment or euthanasia.

Amanda called for stronger protections in conservation wetlands, improved enforcement, education and greater consideration of WASR’s proposals, while acknowledging the vital work of its volunteers.

In this Member’s Statement, Hon Amanda Dorn MLC responds to disturbing footage showing WA racehorse trainer Mike Santich physically abusing a horse, following an earlier incident in which he was captured on CCTV punching another horse.

Amanda argues that the incidents raise troubling questions about what happens to racehorses when nobody is watching. She highlights the inherent conflict of interest within Racing and Wagering WA, which is responsible for promoting and protecting the racing industry while also overseeing the welfare of horses used within it.

The statement reinforces the Animal Justice Party’s call for an Independent Office of Animal Protection to provide genuinely independent, transparent and accountable animal welfare oversight. Amanda argues that allegations of cruelty should be investigated by a body with no commercial interest in the industry involved, rather than relying on members of the public, whistleblowers or hidden cameras to expose animal suffering.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC outlines her Bill to establish an Independent Office of Animal Protection in WA.

She highlights serious flaws in the current system, including fragmented responsibilities, inadequate resourcing and conflicts of interest where agencies oversee both animal welfare and industries that use animals commercially.

The Bill proposes an independent Chief Animal Protection Officer, reporting directly to Parliament, to provide stronger oversight, transparency and dedicated representation for animals.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC has thrown a spotlight on the use of animals for entertainment, following an incident involving Robbie the camel on Cable Beach in Broome.

Robbie reportedly became frightened during a sunset camel ride and bucked two tourists from his back. While much of the discussion focused on human safety, the incident raises a bigger question: why are animals being put in these situations for our entertainment?

Animals are sentient individuals who experience fear, stress and distress. They are not machines, and training cannot override their instincts. The Animal Justice Party believes tradition, popularity and profit do not justify animal exploitation.

Animals are not props, performers or tourist attractions. They are individuals, and they deserve better.

I’ve been raising the alarm about H5N1 preparedness since the start of the year, and I’m deeply concerned about what we are seeing unfold as more cases in pelagic birds emerge.
I’ve repeatedly raised these concerns through ministerial correspondence, members statements in parliament and parliamentary questions. Gaps in operational preparedness remain and confusion amongst the public is growing due to lack of agency accountability and unclear or conflicting public messaging.

Last Friday, as WA’s fifth positive case was confirmed, this time in the Perth Metro region, I sent an open letter to Agriculture and Food Minister, Jackie Jarvis and Environment Minister, Matthew Swinbourn calling for action now to fix the gaping holes before it’s too late.

In this speech, Hon Amanda Dorn MLC raises concerns about the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development's aerial deer culling operations in the Harvey region of Western Australia.

Responding to a petition before Parliament, Amanda questions whether sufficient consideration has been given to humane, non-lethal alternatives and highlights community concerns about animal welfare, transparency and accountability.

Amanda argues that as sentient beings, deer deserve compassionate management approaches that prioritise coexistence wherever possible.