Why Western Australia Must Rethink Veterinary Care Now

Across Western Australia, something deeply important is often overlooked: the health and wellbeing of our companion animals—and by extension, the wellbeing of the people who love them. This is not a niche or sentimental issue; it’s a pressing community health concern that affects thousands of Western Australian families every day.

The unexpected answer in our backyards

We often hear about human health crises, but think for a moment about the rising barriers to veterinary care. Imagine the heartbreak of facing a vet bill that simply cannot be paid when your dog or cat is unwell or injured. This is not just bureaucracy; it’s a waiting room where patients, large and small, suffer or get surrendered because their owners can no longer afford care.

From regional farmers to pensioners in Perth, the challenge is real and spreading. Veterinary services are becoming unaffordable for many, with financial hardship forcing families into impossible decisions: do they take on debt, or say goodbye to a beloved family member? This not only tears families apart, it places immense strain on shelters and volunteers who are already stretched beyond capacity.

The statistics are stark. Over 75% of cats admitted to animal shelters are un-desexed, and this figure hasn't improved in over a decade. Unplanned litters swell shelter populations, escalate euthanasia rates, and spread suffering both for animals and people who care for them. Preventive care like desexing and microchipping isn’t just good sense, it’s a humane and practical necessity.

And beyond the cost, there are behavioural and emotional consequences. Veterinarians and nurses bear an enormous professional and mental health load, often facing compassion fatigue and burnout. Their work, like the care offered by our medical doctors, is essential but undervalued.

Those veterinary professionals are the frontline helpers of our animal companions—and they need support, too.

Lessons from human health apply here

As a medical doctor turned politician, I have witnessed firsthand how access to timely health care saves lives and maintains wellbeing. Yet, as many of you know, human patients are not alone in this struggle. Our pets provide more than just company; they are often pillars of emotional stability for people living with loneliness, mental illness, or disability.

Scientific research across Australia and internationally confirms that pets reduce anxiety, lower stress hormones, and foster social connection. I have seen numerous patients whose service animals help them navigate PTSD and difficult life events. Keeping these animals healthy is essential to maintaining that support.

This isn’t about coddling animals—it’s about acknowledging that veterinary care is integral to community mental health and social cohesion. Yet those benefits are at risk when veterinary care becomes inaccessible.

Pet insurance, while useful for some, is no panacea. Rising premiums and exclusions make policies out of reach for many struggling households, especially pensioners and low-income families. Worse still, desperate owners sometimes resort to social media advice or questionable online sources that could harm their pets.

As such, the government must explore fair, targeted models akin to Medicare that help those who genuinely need assistance, without encouraging wasteful spending. We should not wait for a crisis to spur action.

If you have a moment, I invite you to subscribe to my YouTube channel to hear ongoing discussions about this and related policy topics here.

A call to action: A fairer future for WA pets and people

The recent motion in the Legislative Council calling for an inquiry into affordable veterinary care is a crucial first step. The inquiry will examine barriers—geographical, financial, and systemic—and explore how a publicly funded Veticare system might operate responsibly in WA.

Importantly, this is about sound investment: focusing on prevention, supporting the veterinary workforce, assisting animal rescuers and native animal carers, and recognising the irreplaceable value of the human-animal bond.

None of this can be achieved without serious conversations about funding models and priorities. While the cost of comprehensive Veticare may be significant, we must ask ourselves if we can afford the social, emotional, and economic toll of doing nothing.

I commend all members who supported this motion and look forward to the committee’s findings. To everyone who cherishes their companions four-legged, feathered, or scaled, this is a call to join the conversation and advocate for change.

For those interested in the full details of the Legislative Council debate and motion, please refer to the official record available at this link. To become an active voice for progress, consider joining Legalise Cannabis WA at https://www.lcwaparty.org.au/join—because standing together, we can build a future where no pet or person suffers due to inaccessible care.