Animal Justice Party Pushes Mandatory Grooming Standards After WA Headlines

Animal Justice Party MP Amanda Dorn is campaigning for mandatory grooming accreditation in Western Australia after RSPCA probes and news.com.au investigation coverage put salon handling in the spotlight. For animal justice party grooming standards, 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 reported Dorn meeting organisers and preparing a parliamentary statement on industry reform.

Political momentum in WA does not instantly change booking rules in Sydney or Melbourne, but it signals where national debate can head if PIAA voluntary codes are deemed too slow.

What Dorn says is broken

Dorn told news.com.au there are no clear enforceable industry standards in WA, meaning welfare can depend entirely on the operator. She raised outdated restraint methods, poor handling of anxious dogs, and inconsistent practices that can cause stress, injury, or long-term fear.

She also argued reporting and oversight processes are weak, with little transparency when repeat offenders are identified. Enforcement struggles when the Animal Welfare Act does not spell out grooming-specific abuse clearly.

Her reform list includes mandatory accreditation and licensing, minimum handling and restraint standards, and stronger penalties for welfare breaches.

How industry bodies respond

PIAA told news.com.au it is updating grooming codes of practice and consulting state governments on qualifications. Grooming director Joanne Marden said professionals care deeply for animals and isolated incidents should not define the sector.

Dog Groomers Association of Western Australia president Ashleigh Beales supports education, humane handling, and safe restraint while arguing regulation should be developed with trainers and veterinarians so rules are practical.

Owners sit between enforcement gaps and industry self-regulation. Until law changes, documented intake policies and fear-free handling remain the best available signals.

Parallel pushes in other states

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 Companion Animals Act review. Grooming was not identical policy, but the same consumer question applies: who is qualified to handle your dog for pay?

PIAA’s 2025 survey showing 76% support for mandatory animal care qualifications suggests many groomers welcome clearer bars for entry if existing skills are recognised.

What owners should do now

Use our groomer selection checklist regardless of postcode. Ask about stop policies, incident documentation, and vet referrals for severe matting.

Compare businesses on the directory. Read how to choose a dog groomer before welfare headlines push you toward the cheapest available slot.

Report serious cruelty to RSPCA. Do not boycott professional grooming entirely; coat neglect remains a major welfare driver RSPCA WA highlighted in June 2026.

What owners can tell MPs and councils

Pet owners can support practical regulation without waiting for bills to pass. Write to state MPs citing verifiable incidents while avoiding naming salons before investigations conclude. Ask for transparent enforcement statistics, not only new licensing fees that exclude small ethical businesses.

Praise salons that document handling in writing. Positive examples give policymakers models beyond punitive headlines.

Outlook for federal and state reform

Expect WA to remain the sharpest political arena while PIAA code updates roll through consultation. Petition organisers and AJP continue public pressure into the second half of 2026.

We will amend this page when parliament debates concrete licensing bills or RSPCA closes open grooming investigations cited in media coverage.

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