ANIMAL JUSTICE PARTY Candidate Neil Jensen on Housing, Animal Welfare, and the Cost of Living
The local candidate opens up about his vision for the region, pushing for affordable housing, harsher animal cruelty penalties, and a stronger crossbench in WA parliament.
Wade McColl (02/08/2026)
Neil Jensen, Animal Justice Party, Secret Harbour By-election. Photo: Supplied by Neil Jensen, 2026.
As the Secret Harbour by-election approaches, the race is intensifying with 16 candidates vying for the seat. Among them is Neil Jensen, the Deputy Convenor of the Animal Justice Party (AJP) WA.
Growing up in Cooloongup and Warnbro, with family ties in Baldivis, Jensen brings a distinctly local perspective to his campaign. Having joined the AJP in 2017 after viewing undercover footage from Australian factory farms, his background spans advocacy, policing, education, and business.
We spoke with Jensen to break down his policies and find out how he plans to address the most urgent issues facing the southern corridor.
Tackling the Local Housing Crisis
While major parties dominate the headlines regarding infrastructure, Jensen identifies housing affordability as the single most urgent issue facing Secret Harbour residents.
To combat this, the AJP is proposing several aggressive interventions to stabilize the market and support struggling families:
Rent Controls: Implementing inflation-indexed rent caps to prevent sudden, unmanageable price hikes.
State-Owned Dwellings: Committing to the rapid construction of approximately 75,000 basic, state-owned homes.
Alternative Housing: Permitting the installation of tiny homes and kit homes as primary dwellings.
"Hardworking people are barely keeping afloat," Jensen says, noting that the housing crisis is exacerbating other major community issues, including domestic violence and mental health struggles.
Addressing Animal Welfare in a "Cruelty Hotspot"
Recent data highlighted the Rockingham area as one of Western Australia's top animal cruelty hotspots, experiencing a 25% jump in reports over the last year.
Jensen points out that of the 7,195 cruelty reports received statewide in the 2024 to 2025 financial year, only 41 resulted in a finalized prosecution. To address this, he is campaigning for:
Harsher Penalties: Tougher sentencing to act as a stronger deterrent and keep dangerous individuals out of the community.
Increased Enforcement Resources: Significantly greater public funding for the RSPCA’s enforcement arm and the establishment of a specialist animal welfare division within WA Police.
Independent Regulator: The creation of an independent animal welfare regulator to eliminate conflicts of interest within government departments.
Rethinking Education and Healthcare
Drawing from his firsthand experience working in the education sector, Jensen is passionate about addressing lagging foundational skills and teacher burnout.
He advocates for a major rethink of teaching methodologies, pointing to highly successful models in Finland and Singapore. His platform calls for lower student-to-teacher ratios, more education assistants, and an emphasis on outdoor, hands-on, collaborative learning.
On healthcare, Jensen aims to tackle hospital wait times and ambulance ramping by shifting focus toward preventative care, thereby reducing the heavy burden on emergency treatment infrastructure.
Cost of Living and Geothermal Energy
Energy costs remain a major pain point for households across the state. While Jensen supports immediate bill concessions for struggling families, his long-term environmental and economic strategy centers on geothermal power.
Instead of relying heavily on wind and solar, which require expansive, high-maintenance battery storage facilities and lithium mining, Jensen champions geothermal energy as a stable, low-emission alternative.
"We don't need the wind to blow or the sun to shine in order for superheated subterranean rock to boil water and power a generator," he explains, noting that while it requires upfront investment, ongoing costs for consumers would remain low.
The Power of the Crossbench
With preference negotiations still in the early stages, the AJP is seeking common ground with minor parties and independents who support key initiatives, including a ban on horse and greyhound racing and the introduction of "Veticare" to subsidize veterinary bills for those in need.
Jensen acknowledges the limits of operating outside a major party but stresses the importance of minor parties in keeping the government accountable.
"In my opinion, the only wasted vote is one that puts the major parties first," Jensen states. "Voting for candidates who align more closely with your values sends a clear message about what matters to you, and forces the government to pay attention."