In WA, wildlife-focused rehabilitation organisations often rescue and rehabilitate animals such as brush-tailed bettongs, cockatoos, marine turtles, quendas, joeys, and owls.

These wildlife rescue organisations provide hours of free support for animals through dedicated volunteer networks, including nurturing injured, neglected, or deformed wildlife back to health.

They help our state’s wildlife recover from fires, floods, and road-based accidents, and protect the future of native animal welfare.

This requires a significant community effort and financial contribution for veterinary services, equipment, and rehabilitation, which are often constrained by overly bureaucratic regulations and requirements.

Labor’s current laws have placed an undue burden on the operations of these organisations.

They have implemented a one-size-fits-all policy that fails to address the complexities involved and lacks the necessary information to support rescue organisations effectively.

Not only does this tie up organisations with bureaucracy and red tape, but it also provides a significant hindrance at a time when animal equipment, care, and essentials are difficult to secure.

The WA Liberals know more needs to be done to support wildlife organisations in continuing to care for injured wildlife.

WA Labor has imposed unnecessary and ineffectual new restrictions on wildlife rescue organisations, supported by unrealistic bureaucracy and costs.

The State Government needs to make it easier for these organisations to do their necessary work — not harder — by prioritising practical outcomes.

Only a WA Liberal Government will deliver it.

The WA Liberals believe in a common sense approach to wildlife rescue, allowing volunteers to do what they do best.

These organisations rely heavily on volunteers, memberships, and donations, which are under significant pressure.

Volunteers provide thousands of hours of free service to protect our native fauna and must be supported in their service to our community.

The current laws threaten conservation groups with red tape and limit these organisations’ ability to save native Western Australian wildlife.

A WA Liberal Government will make it easier for Wildlife Rescue organisations to operate, by reviewing regulations and providing support to navigate the current barriers to their work.

We will back these organisations through a review of the rules, regulations, and fees imposed on their operations by the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, to make it easier for the wildlife rehabilitation sector to function.

By providing $400,000 worth of submission-based grants a year, through the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, wildlife organisations can better assist in protecting and rehabilitation our native animals.

Aiding these organisations with grants and streamlined regulations, especially in the face of increasing natural disasters and emergency incidents, will allow our hardworking wildlife volunteers to get on with helping our most vulnerable animals.

Western Australians deserve a government that will ensure these organisations and volunteers have the resources, time, and regulatory support to do what they do best.

Only the WA Liberal Party is committed to ensuring these organisations can continue to efficiently and effectively protect our state’s unique native wildlife for generations to come.