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.

In this Budget Reply Speech, Hon Amanda Dorn MLC examines the 2026-27 Western Australian State Budget through the lens of animal welfare and environmental protection.

She highlights concerns about ongoing subsidies to the racing industry, the absence of an Independent Office of Animal Protection, the lack of affordable veterinary care through Veticare, continued lethal wildlife killing programs, and the failure to invest in dedicated conservation measures for threatened species such as black cockatoos.

The speech also explores the One Welfare framework, which recognises the connection between animal wellbeing, human wellbeing and environmental health, and asks an important question: what do our budget priorities say about who and what we value?

In this speech to the Western Australian Parliament, Hon Amanda Dorn MLC highlights a community-led campaign to protect Scenic Drive Park in Perth's northern suburbs by incorporating it into Yellagonga Regional Park.

The area provides critical habitat for native wildlife including quendas, long-necked turtles, black cockatoos and migratory birds, while serving as an important ecological corridor in one of Western Australia's fastest-growing urban regions.

Amanda calls for stronger habitat protection and recognises the local residents working to safeguard this valuable bushland for future generations.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC speaks in the Western Australian Parliament on the future of WA's demersal fish stocks, including dhufish, pink snapper and baldchin groper.

Drawing on independent scientific evidence, Amanda argues that precautionary management is necessary to rebuild depleted populations, protect marine ecosystems and ensure healthy oceans for future generations.

The speech highlights the importance of science-based decision-making, ecological stewardship and recognising fish as sentient animals deserving of consideration and protection.

Amanda Dorn MLC speaks in the Western Australian Parliament about the future of Murdoch University’s "Murdoch on the ROAD" veterinary outreach program, a long-running initiative delivering desexing, preventative healthcare and veterinary support to remote and regional communities across WA.

Amanda highlights concerns about the program's funding beyond 2026 and calls on the State Government to secure its future, recognising its vital role in improving animal welfare, supporting regional communities and training the next generation of veterinarians.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC speaks in the Western Australian Parliament about the Harry Potter Forbidden Forest Experience at Jorgensen Park Reserve in Kalamunda.

In this speech, Amanda raises concerns about the impact of large-scale commercial light and sound events on conservation land, threatened wildlife, and critical habitat for endangered species including black cockatoos, quokkas and chuditch.

She highlights concerns raised by local residents, conservationists and wildlife advocates regarding biodiversity, habitat disturbance, artificial light pollution and the protection of public conservation reserves.

Hon Amanda Dorn MLC speaks in the WA Parliament about the Mullewa Muster rodeo and the broader animal welfare concerns associated with rodeo events.

In this speech, Amanda discusses growing community concern about calf roping, bucking events and the use of animals for entertainment, highlighting scientific evidence, RSPCA WA's position, and changing public attitudes towards animal welfare. She also raises questions about the use of taxpayer funding for events that involve practices many Western Australians find unacceptable. Animals are sentient beings capable of experiencing fear, stress and suffering.

This speech calls for a serious conversation about the future of rodeos in Western Australia and whether animal suffering should ever be considered entertainment.

In Parliament during May 2026, Amanda introduced a motion calling for an investigation into Western Australia’s treatment of dingoes, including the continued use of 1080 poison baiting, strychnine trapping and the legal classification of dingoes as “pests”.

Her speech examined the growing scientific evidence around the ecological importance of dingoes as apex predators, alongside concerns about animal suffering, public safety, ecosystem disruption and the failure of current control programs to resolve conflict.

Amanda also highlighted the cultural significance of dingoes to First Nations communities and called for a more modern, evidence-based and compassionate approach to wildlife management in Western Australia..

In this Member’s Statement, Amanda Dorn speaks about the routine killing of millions of male chicks in Australia’s egg industry and the growing push to phase the practice out.

The statement discusses the potential for in-ovo sexing technology by Australia’s largest hatchery, allowing the sex of chicks to be identified before hatching and preventing the mass killing of day-old male chicks through maceration.

Amanda Dorn says the technology represents a major step forward for animal welfare and argues that governments should now support its rollout across the industry and establish a clear end date for the practice nationwide.

In this Member’s Statement, Amanda Dorn highlights the important work being done through Murdoch University’s “Murdoch on the ROAD” veterinary outreach program, which delivers essential veterinary care to animals in regional and remote Western Australia.

The statement explores the growing challenges many communities face in accessing veterinary services, including workforce shortages, distance and financial barriers, and recognises the positive impact programs like this can have for both animals and the people who care for them.

Amanda Dorn also discusses the broader issue of veterinary accessibility across WA and outlines the Animal Justice Party’s Veticare proposal, which aims to explore long-term solutions to make veterinary care more affordable and accessible for all communities. The statement acknowledges the veterinarians, students and support teams involved in the outreach program and the practical difference they are making on the ground for animal welfare across the state.

In this parliamentary speech, Amanda Dorn raises urgent concerns about kangaroos being subjected to escalating construction works and shrinking habitat as development activity intensifies around them.

The speech highlights reports from residents and wildlife carers describing distressed kangaroos trapped behind fencing, fleeing machinery noise and running out of safe space to disperse.

Amanda also questions the decision-making process surrounding the development, including concerns that relocation pathways may not have been properly explored despite planning conditions requiring consideration of fauna management options.

The speech calls for transparency, urgent intervention and meaningful action to protect native wildlife before further suffering occurs.

Here, the Hon. Amanda Dorn MLC speaks in the WA Parliament about Australia’s live export trade and the ongoing cruelty inherent in transporting animals by sea.

Her statement highlights the heat stress endured by these animals, as well as prolonged confinement and the fact that breeder dairy cattle exported live are not covered by ESCAS, the system supposedly designed to protect animals being exported from Australia.

In this Member’s Statement, Amanda Dorn raises concerns about the City of Rockingham’s decision to direct significant ratepayer funding towards horse racing events at Lark Hill, despite council policies opposing gambling promotion and animal cruelty.

The speech examines broader issues surrounding gambling harm, the treatment of horses in the racing industry, transparency in local government decision-making, and whether ethical standards are being upheld when public money is involved.

Amanda also questions the appropriateness of holding a commercial racing and gambling event over the ANZAC Day long weekend and

In this Member’s Statement, Amanda Dorn raises concerns about Western Australia’s preparedness for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). International outbreaks have already devastated wild bird populations, poultry and some mammals and experts warn it is no longer a question of if the disease will reach Western Australia, but when.

The statement highlights modelling that suggests thousands of cases could occur each year, with sick and dying birds likely to be found in suburbs, parks, schools and other everyday community spaces.

Amanda outlines warnings from wildlife rehabilitation organisations that they are not equipped to manage an outbreak at this scale without government support. Wildlife carers say that without funding for staffing, protective equipment, biosecurity measures and safe disposal of deceased animals, some facilities may be forced to close to bird admissions.

The statement calls on the Western Australian Government to urgently address these operational gaps and ensure practical planning is in place before the disease arrives.

The Hon. Amanda Dorn’s speech raises urgent concerns in the Western Australian Parliament about the impact of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides (SGARs) on native wildlife.

New research from Edith Cowan University found that every owl tested in a recent South West study had toxic to lethal levels of rat poison in their system, highlighting the serious problem of secondary poisoning as toxins move up the food chain.

Amanda calls for stronger regulation and safer alternatives to better protect wildlife, ecosystems and companion animals.

Animal Justice Party MLC Hon Amanda Dorn’s speech expresses support for the Western Australian Government’s decision to introduce stronger protections for demersal fish species such as WA dhufish, pink snapper and red emperor, whose populations have continued to decline despite previous restrictions.

Her speech highlights the clear scientific evidence showing these long-lived species are under increasing pressure and require stronger intervention to allow breeding stocks to recover.

Amanda recognises that the decision required political courage and commends the Government for taking action before populations decline further.

The speech also emphasises the broader responsibility to protect marine ecosystems, noting that ocean wildlife and habitats are not limitless and must be safeguarded for future generations.

It reflects the Animal Justice Party’s position that wildlife and ecosystems should be managed using independent science, precaution and long-term stewardship of the natural environment.

Animal Justice Party MLC Hon Amanda Dorn speaks in the Western Australian Parliament about the welfare risks of live animal export during extreme heat.

In this statement, she raises concerns about cattle being loaded for export at Fremantle Port in temperatures reaching 38°C, highlighting the lack of enforceable heat limits, wait time rules, or automatic suspension of loading during dangerous conditions.

Dorn questions how current regulations relying on “reasonable steps” can adequately protect animals when severe heat stress risks are present. She calls for transparent reporting, science-based temperature thresholds, and stronger oversight to prevent animals from being transported and loaded in extreme heat.

The statement also reiterates the Animal Justice Party’s position that, while the live export trade continues, clear and enforceable heat protections must be introduced to prevent animal suffering.

Hon. Amanda Dorn reflects on the close of submissions to the Western Australian parliamentary inquiry into greyhound racing, describing it as a crucial turning point now moving to committee scrutiny.

She points to strong evidence of community sentiment, highlighting a major survey initiated by advocacy group Free The Hounds. Surveying nearly 3,000 Western Australians, the results show clear majority support for phasing out greyhound racing, with backing evident across age groups, income levels and political affiliations.

In her speech, Amanda stresses that opposition to greyhound racing is no longer marginal, but firmly part of the mainstream. She notes that growing concern over animal welfare is driving this shift, particularly in light of a 155% increase in on-track deaths between 2022 and 2023, and dozens more deaths recorded in 2025.

Amanda also questions the ongoing use of $33 million in public funds to sustain the industry, especially during a cost-of-living crisis. She concludes that a phase-out is a sensible, compassionate and economically responsible path forward.

Here, the Hon. Amanda Dorn delivers a powerful speech condemning the continued use of live lamb cutting, making it clear that mandating pain relief does not make the practice humane.

While acknowledging recent regulatory changes, she argues they amount to the bare minimum and do not address the core cruelty of cutting the skin from lambs without anaesthesia.

Amanda also highlights the industry’s broken promise to end mulesing by 2010, noting that more than 150 million lambs have been subjected to the practice since. She points to strong scientific evidence that lambs feel every cut, even with pain relief, and to growing global demand for certified non-mulesed wool.

With Australia now the only country still routinely mulesing, she calls on the WA Government to show leadership by legislating a clear timeline to ban live lamb cutting and supporting producers to transition to plain-bodied sheep genetics.