New legislation to support modern veterinary service delivery in Western Australia is now in place.
The Veterinary Practice Act 2021 and tranche one of the Veterinary Practice Regulations 2022 commenced operation on 18 June 2022, replacing the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1960 and Veterinary Surgeons Regulations 1979.
The Act was developed with ongoing feedback from the profession and broader community, which signalled the need for a more balanced and modern statute, aligned with interstate approaches to compliance and regulation of veterinary practice.
The Act establishes WA as the first Australian jurisdiction to recognise veterinary nursing as a registered profession.
Under the Act, a new and expanded Veterinary Practice Board, comprised of a more representative membership and including a consumer representative, will oversee implementation of the legislation.
Following the Act’s passage through Parliament in October 2021, the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) has been consulting with stakeholders on regulations to support the new Act, with the regulations being implemented in two tranches.
DPIRD Chief Veterinary Officer Michelle Rodan said tranche one of the Veterinary Practice Regulations was in place to support operation of the Act.
These do not significantly change the day-to-day practice of veterinarians and others providing veterinary services in WA.
“Tranche two of the Veterinary Practice Regulations are being developed with broad stakeholder consultation and will update provisions to produce contemporary, fit-for-purpose regulations,” Dr Rodan said.
“We received a high level of response and requests for further information from industry from our initial consultation paper, which focused on acts of veterinary medicine and pregnancy scanning and spaying of cattle.
“DPIRD has reviewed the submissions from the initial consultation and has been conducting further consultation with representative industry bodies in relation to pregnancy testing and spaying.
“DPIRD has begun a second consultation with additional information about acts of veterinary medicine and a range of other topics to inform the development of the tranche two regulations.”
DPIRD encourages stakeholders to review the consultation paper and make a submission at the consultation hub, yoursay.dpird.wa.gov.au. The consultation closes at 5pm AWST on 29 July 2022.
Media contacts:
Jodie Thomson/Megan Broad, media liaison (08) 9368 3937