Animal Justice Party Pushes Mandatory Grooming Standards After WA Headlines

Animal Justice Party grooming standards are now a WA political campaign: MP Amanda Dorn wants mandatory accreditation after RSPCA probes and news.com.au coverage put salon handling on the front page. Updated 30 June 2026.

news.com.au quoted Dorn on weak reporting transparency, vague Animal Welfare Act language in grooming contexts, and the absence of mandatory qualifications. A Change.org petition update in December 2025 said Dorn met organisers and was preparing a parliamentary statement. Momentum in Perth does not rewrite a Sydney booking form tomorrow. It does show where the national argument goes if voluntary codes are judged too slow.

What Dorn says is broken

She told the paper there are no clear enforceable industry standards in WA, so welfare depends on the operator. She raised outdated restraint, poor handling of anxious dogs, and inconsistent practice that can cause stress, injury, or long-term fear. She also argued oversight is weak when repeat offenders are hard to see, and that the Animal Welfare Act does not spell out grooming-specific abuse clearly enough for inspectors.

Her list: mandatory accreditation and licensing, minimum handling and restraint standards, and stronger penalties for welfare breaches. That’s a statute agenda, not a salon marketing plan.

How PIAA and DGAWA answered

PIAA told news.com.au it is updating grooming codes and consulting state governments on qualifications. Grooming director Joanne Marden said professionals care deeply and isolated incidents should not define the sector. Dog Groomers Association of Western Australia president Ashleigh Beales supports education, humane handling, and safe restraint, and wants rules written with trainers and vets so they can be used on a Saturday.

Owners sit between an enforcement gap and self-regulation. Until a bill passes, documented intake and a real stop policy are still the signals you can test this week.

Other states are arguing about paid handlers too

ABC News reported in October 2025 that RSPCA NSW chief veterinarian Liz Arnott called for mandatory qualifications for professional dog trainers, walkers, and daycare operators under a Companion Animals Act review. That is not a grooming licence. It is the same consumer question: who is qualified to handle your dog for pay? PIAA’s 2025 survey showing 76% support for mandatory animal care qualifications suggests many groomers would accept a clearer entry bar if existing skills are recognised.

Write to state MPs with verifiable incidents. Don’t name a salon as guilty before an investigation closes. Ask for transparent enforcement statistics, not only a new fee that locks out small ethical rooms. Praise salons that put handling in writing. Policymakers need models beyond a viral clip.

What still sits with you

Use our groomer selection checklist regardless of postcode. Ask about stop policies, incident notes, and vet referrals for severe matting. Report serious cruelty to RSPCA. Don’t boycott professional grooming; coat neglect remains a major driver in RSPCA WA’s June 2026 figures.

Expect WA to stay the sharpest political arena while PIAA drafts roll through consultation. Petition organisers and the AJP will keep pressure into the second half of 2026. We will amend this page when parliament debates a concrete licensing bill or RSPCA closes the open grooming files cited in coverage.

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