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House of Assembly - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2023-11-30 Daily Xml
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Bills

Veterinary Services Bill

Second Reading

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION (Taylor—Minister for Trade and Investment, Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Minister for Planning) (11:59): I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

This is a very important bill, which I understand has been in the other place and debated rather thoroughly. I do not intend to make a long second reading contribution. These are important bills.

Members interjecting:

The Hon. N.D. CHAMPION: There is no need to interject on such an uncontroversial matter. As I understand, this bill dictates to various things that allow vets to operate in our state. I seek leave to have the second reading explanation and explanation of clauses inserted in Hansard without my reading them.

Leave granted.

I am very pleased to introduce the Veterinary Services Bill 2023into this place on behalf of the Hon. Clare Scriven in the other place.

Veterinarians play a key role in animal, human and community wellbeing by maintaining the health and welfare of our pets and the productivity and growth of our livestock industries.

Australia has one of the highest proportions of pet ownership in the world, and as such veterinary services contribute significantly to the nation's economy. In 2022, Australian households are estimated to have spent over $33 billion on their pets, with veterinary services representing about 14% of this expenditure or $4.7 billion to the economy.

Veterinarians also support the livestock industries, which were worth a combined $5.3 billion in revenue to the South Australian economy in 2022. Veterinarians provide our livestock industries with advice and investigate, prevent, control and treat disease. Importantly, they are crucial in detecting diseases and responding to emergency animal disease incursions, with these activities both supporting and protecting valuable domestic and export markets.

Commensurate with the growing demand for veterinary services, the number of veterinarians in South Australia has been steadily increasing in recent years, with an increase from 761 in 2017 to 877 in June 2021, and more recently to 912 in June 2023. Currently, veterinary practice and the veterinary profession in South Australia are regulated via the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 and the Veterinary Practice Regulations 2017.

The veterinary profession and animal care industry have evolved significantly since 2003 when the current legislative framework first came into effect. Significant changes to the industry have occurred in practice models and location, employment type, species serviced, and specialties offered.

The role of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia, the body responsible for regulating the veterinary profession in the state, has also changed during this time, most notably with the responsibility for hearing and determining alleged unprofessional conduct by veterinarians transferring to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal in 2020.

The new Veterinary Services Bill 2023 seeks to address these changes and ensure veterinary practice regulation in the state is flexible and aligns with both the contemporary nature of the profession and the standards expected by users and providers of veterinary services. Feedback from a 2020 review of the current Veterinary Practice Act 2003 showed that stakeholders overwhelmingly supported reform of the legislative framework supporting veterinary practice in South Australia.

The raft of potential legislative changes that were identified through public consultation and the broader review process meant it would be more effective to propose new legislation as opposed to amending the current act. As such, the new Veterinary Services Bill will address stakeholder feedback by updating the state's veterinary legislation to fulfil the objectives of supporting animal health, safety and welfare and the public interest.

A key change is that the bill proposes a variation to the definition of veterinary treatment. Veterinary treatment will become veterinary services, and the definition will be updated for clarity and to more accurately reflect veterinary services delivered by the veterinary profession in 2023.

Another feature of the bill that aims to improve the regulation of the veterinary profession in South Australia relates to changes to the state's Veterinary Surgeons Board. The Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia will become the Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia and will be modernised and transformed to better serve the needs of both veterinary users and providers.

Board composition will be modified to ensure membership includes the sufficient and appropriate breadth of skills, knowledge and experience to fulfil board responsibilities. The collective membership of the board aims to cover the diversity that exists within the profession in regard to employment type, location and other demographic factors. The number of members will increase from 8 to 9 with the addition of one veterinarian member. The chair will be a veterinarian with management or governance skills, knowledge and experience, unless another member is considered more appropriate to be appointed as chair.

As supported by consultation feedback from 2020, board functions will be expanded under the proposed legislation to include additional responsibilities relating to communication, information, and advice. Transparency surrounding administrative processes will be supported along with conferring and collaborating with other veterinary regulatory authorities to ensure effective national exchange of information and promote uniformity and consistency in the regulation of veterinarians in Australia.

The bill includes provisions that enable the minister to provide directions to the board. These powers are included to ensure that public interest matters are dealt with appropriately. Details of the direction given and action taken by the board in response are required to be included in the board's annual report and laid before parliament.

The bill will provide for requirements for board members to complete training related to corporate governance to support them in effectively carrying out board functions. The board will also be required to regularly provide the contact details of veterinarians registered under the act to the government for the purposes of enabling timely communication in a number of defined circumstances. This will ensure the government has an avenue to communicate with the state's veterinarians in the case of an emergency such as a bushfire or an emergency animal disease event, and will contribute to the overall aim of increased communication that the bill brings.

Adequate availability of veterinarians, particularly in regional areas, is essential for animal health safety and welfare, the public interest and the productivity and growth of livestock industries. Where possible and within its scope, the bill proposes to introduce changes that are intended to support and encourage veterinarians to practise in, or return to practising in our state.

To provide veterinarians returning from a period away from practice with a transparent, clear, and predetermined pathway that ensures appropriate recent experience, knowledge, and competence are considered prior to returning to practice, the bill will introduce a requirement for the board to publish requirements relating to transition to practice and clarify that a non-practising veterinarian wishing to return to practice must comply with any requirements of the board relating to this transition.

Additional scope has been provided for the board to control the categories of registration offered by clarifying that registrations need not be tied to the calendar year or require payment of an annual fee. While scope has been provided and may enable consideration of a non-practising or part-time category of registration, these matters are ultimately for the board to consider.

A provision has been added to clarify that, in addition to other criteria, a person is eligible to be registered as a veterinarian on completion of relevant academic requirements but prior to degree conferral. This will ensure that graduates will be available to enter the workforce upon completion of the academic requirements of their degree if recognised by the university as having done so.

Limited registration provisions have been expanded to enable a person who, in the opinion of the board, has appropriate qualifications or experience in a particular area of veterinary practice obtained in an overseas jurisdiction, to provide veterinary services or engage in other conduct as a veterinarian while residing or visiting the state. Related provisions have also been expanded to enable the board to impose a condition limiting the kind of animal in relation to which the person may provide veterinary services as a veterinarian.

The bill also provides for the registration of all veterinary premises including clinics, practices, hospitals, emergency and specialist centres. A reference to premises will also be taken to include a reference to a mobile hospital or clinic in which it is intended that veterinary services will be provided, in recognition that such hospitals or clinics may become more commonplace into the future.

The requirement for premises registration is a key change to the current legislation that requires only the accreditation of veterinary hospitals. This change will enable the board to set minimum standards for veterinary premises to ensure all premises that provide veterinary services are fit for their intended purpose and appropriately regulated. Compliance with minimum requirements for veterinary premises will be supported by new offence provisions and the ability to inspect premises. Careful consideration has been given to the growing mobile and telehealth veterinary services sector to enable these important services to continue.

Another major change in the bill is the increased transparency it offers veterinarians and consumers regarding the handling of complaints concerning the conduct of registered veterinarians. The provisions for handling complaints in the bill largely reflect current processes; however, they include additional options for the board to appropriately resolve matters that are of a less serious nature where formal disciplinary proceedings are unnecessary. Such matters may be addressed through education and training with a goal of improving the future conduct of the veterinarian concerned.

The bill enables the option for the board, should both parties agree and it is appropriate to do so, to provide conciliation between the complainant and the veterinarian. The board will also have the ability to accept an undertaking made by a veterinarian, have powers to issue a reprimand, provide the veterinarian with counselling, require them to complete specified remedial training or education to address any shortfalls, or impose conditions on their registration. These avenues are seen as more appropriate to reduce the impact on all parties involved and will support the timely and efficient resolution of complaints.

The bill retains the ability for the board to refer complaints that are of a more serious nature to the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Veterinarians will continue to be able to seek a review of a board decision from the tribunal.

The bill, however, removes the ability for an aggrieved person to lodge a complaint directly to the tribunal. This supports the board being the appropriate entry point for lodging complaints and will ensure that each complaint has been subject to an assessment to determine that there is proper basis for referring the matter to the tribunal. These changes also reflect that disciplinary proceedings are brought in the public interest and are not strictly inter partes proceedings. Certain information in respect of complaints received about the conduct of veterinarians will be included in the board's annual report to further support transparency.

Finally, the bill will remove unnecessary offence provisions, instead enabling requirements pertaining to professional conduct to be set out in professional codes, standards, and guidelines where relevant. This will ensure a contemporary and flexible approach to regulation that can accommodate future changes to the profession. Essential provisions from the current legislation, such as a number of important offence provisions, key board functions, the majority of provisions relating to veterinary registration and the recognition of interstate veterinarian registration, are retained in the bill.

I have filed an amendment to clause 79, which seeks to provide flexibility to constitute the appropriate tribunal depending on the circumstances of the matter being heard. In addition to retaining the ability to appoint two veterinarian assessors to the tribunal, this amendment offers an alternative to appoint one veterinarian assessor and one non-veterinarian assessor. I look forward to the committee stage and the contributions of members in the house. I commend the Veterinary Services Bill 2023 to the house and look forward to further debate.

Explanation of Clauses

Part 1—Preliminary

1—Short title

This clause is formal.

2—Commencement

Commencement of the measure is by proclamation. Section 27(6) of the Legislation Interpretation Act 2021 is disapplied.

3—Interpretation

This clause defines terms and phrases used in the measure.

4—Application of Act

This clause clarifies that the measure does not derogate from other Acts or laws.

Part 2—Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia

Division 1—Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia

5—Continuation of Board

This clause provides for the continuation of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia as the Veterinary Services Regulatory Board of South Australia as a body corporate with perpetual succession, a common seal, the capacity to litigate in its corporate name and all the powers of an individual capable of being exercised by a body corporate.

It also provides that the Board is subject to the direction and control of the Minister and limits the directions that the Minister may give.

6—Composition of Board

This clause provides for the Board to consist of 9 members appointed by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister and empowers the Governor to appoint deputy members. It provides that 6 members must be veterinarians and sets out the skills, knowledge and experience that those members must possess. It also requires the Chair of the Board to be a veterinarian with management or governance skills, knowledge and experience unless another member is appropriate. The Minister may consult with a peak body representing the veterinary profession in the State that is prescribed by the regulations before recommending veterinarians for appointment as members of the Board.

7—Terms and conditions of membership

This clause provides for members of the Board to be appointed for a term not exceeding 3 years and to be eligible for re-appointment on expiry of a term of appointment provided that the member does not hold office for consecutive terms that exceed 9 years in total.

It sets out the circumstances in which a member's office becomes vacant and in which the Governor is empowered to remove a member from office. It also allows members whose terms have expired to continue to act as members to hear part-heard medical fitness proceedings.

8—Direction if Board fails to carry out functions

This clause allows the Minister to direct the Board to carry out its functions if of the opinion that the Board has failed to do so satisfactorily. The Minister must give the Board reasonable time to comply with the direction and must table the direction in Parliament.

9—Removal of all members of Board

This clause allows the Minister to recommend to the Governor that all members of the Board be removed from office if the Minister is of the opinion that the Board has failed to comply with a direction to carry out its functions. The Governor may subsequently remove all members from office by notice in the Gazette. It also sets out the provisions that apply if all members of the Board are removed.

10—Vacancies or defects in appointment of members

This clause ensures acts and proceedings of the Board are not invalid by reason only of a vacancy in its membership or a defect in the appointment of a member.

11—Remuneration

This clause entitles a member of the Board to remuneration, allowances and expenses determined by the Governor.

12—Governance training

This clause requires a member of the Board to complete training related to corporate governance in accordance with any requirements in the regulations.

13—Publication of appointments

This clause requires the Board to publish and maintain a list of current members of the Board on a website.

14—Functions

This clause sets out the functions of the Board and requires the Board to exercise its functions with the object of supporting animal health, safety and welfare and the public interest by achieving and maintaining high professional standards of competence and conduct in the provision of veterinary services in South Australia.

It also sets out the requirements for preparing, endorsing, varying, substituting and revoking a code, standard or guidelines under the measure.

It further requires the Board to provide the Minister with such information, records and other documents relating to the functions or operations of the Board as the Minister may require.

15—Reporting on exercise of functions

This clause allows the Minister to request, and requires the Board to provide, a written report about the exercise of the Board's functions generally or in relation to a specified matter.

16—Committees

This clause empowers the Board to establish committees to advise the Board and assist it to carry out its functions.

17—Delegations

This clause empowers the Board to delegate functions under the measure, other than a function prescribed by the regulations, to a member of the Board, the Executive Officer, a member of staff of the Board or a committee established by the Board and requires a delegation to be provided to members of the Board and the Minister within 7 days after it is made.

18—Procedures

This clause deals with matters relating to the Board's procedures such as the quorum at meetings, the chairing of meetings, voting rights, the holding of conferences by telephone and other electronic means and the keeping and provision of minutes.

19—Staff and resources

This clause provides for the Board to have such staff as it thinks necessary for the proper performance of its functions and allows the Board to make use of the services, facilities or officers of an administrative unit of the Public Service with the approval of the relevant Minister.

20—Application of Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act

This clause provides that the Public Sector (Honesty and Accountability) Act 1995 applies to a member of a committee of the Board as if the committee were an advisory body and that a member of the Board or a committee will not be taken to have a direct or indirect interest in a matter for the purposes of that Act by reason only of the fact the member has an interest in a matter shared in common with veterinarians generally or a substantial section of veterinarians.

21—Power to require medical examination or report

This clause empowers the Board to require a veterinarian or person applying for registration or reinstatement of registration as a veterinarian to submit to an examination by a health professional or provide a medical report from a health professional, including an examination or report that will require the person to undergo a medically invasive procedure. If the person fails to comply, the Board can suspend the person's registration until further order.

22—Accounts and audit

This clause requires the Board to keep proper accounting records in relation to its financial affairs, to have annual statements of account prepared in respect of each financial year and to have the accounts audited annually by an auditor approved by the Auditor-General and appointed by the Board. It also empowers the Auditor-General to audit the Board's accounts at any time.

23—Annual report

This clause requires the Board to prepare an annual report for the Minister and requires the Minister to table the report in Parliament.

Division 2—Executive Officer

24—Executive Officer

This clause provides for the appointment of an Executive Officer by the Board on terms and conditions determined by the Board.

25—Functions

This clause sets out the functions of the Executive Officer.

26—Delegations

This clause empowers the Executive Officer to delegate functions under the measure, other than a function prescribed by the regulations, and requires a delegation to be provided to members of the Board within 7 days after it is made.

Part 3—Registration of veterinarians

Division 1—Registers

27—Registers

This clause sets out the registers that the Executive Officer must keep and maintain for the purpose of registration of veterinarians and lists the information that must be included on the registers. It also requires a copy of the registers to be published on a website and empowers the Executive Officer to exempt information from the copies of the registers on the website if satisfied it would be inappropriate to disclose that information.

Division 2—Primary registration

28—Registration on general or specialist register

This clause empowers the Board to grant primary registration to a person, outlines when a person is eligible for registration (as well as limited and provisional registration), sets out the authorisation general and specialist registration gives and sets out how an application must be made.

It also empowers the Board to impose conditions on a person's registration and makes it an offence for a person to contravene a condition with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months.

29—Veterinarian to inform Board of changes to certain information

This clause requires a veterinarian with primary registration to inform the Board of changes to certain information and fixes a maximum penalty of $250.

30—Removal from register

This clause requires the Executive Officer to remove a person from a register in specified circumstances.

31—Reinstatement on register

This clause requires the Board to reinstate a person on a register if they are eligible for registration and sets out the circumstances in which a person may apply for reinstatement and how an application for reinstatement must be made.

32—Fees and returns

This clause deals with the payment of registration, reinstatement and practice fees and requires registered persons to furnish the Board with an annual return in relation to their provision of veterinary services, continuing professional development and other matters relevant to their registration under the measure. It empowers the Board to remove from a register the name of a person who fails to pay the practice fee or furnish the required return.

Division 3—Deemed registration

33—Recognition of veterinarians registered in other jurisdictions

This clause sets out when a person will be taken to have deemed registration and the authorisation deemed registration gives.

34—Contravention of conditions of deemed registration

This clause makes it an offence for a person to contravene a condition of the person's deemed registration with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months.

35—Veterinarian with deemed registration to inform Board of contact details etc

This clause requires a veterinarian with deemed registration to provide the Board with their contact details within 1 month of providing veterinary services or engaging in other conduct as a veterinarian in South Australia and requires the veterinarian to inform the Board of changes to that information. In each case, a maximum penalty of $250 is fixed for a contravention.

Division 4—Registration in participating jurisdictions

36—Registration to be subject to conditions

This clause provides that a restriction, limitation or condition on a person's registration in another jurisdiction applies to the person's registration under this measure and empowers the Board to waive or modify such a restriction, limitation or condition. It also allows the Board to impose conditions on a person's deemed registration.

37—Suspension or cancellation of registration or disqualification

This clause provides that if a person's registration in another jurisdiction is suspended or cancelled, or the person is disqualified from registration in another jurisdiction, then the person's registration under this measure is suspended or cancelled, or the person is disqualified from registration, on the same terms. It also empowers the Board to waive a suspension, cancellation or disqualification and sets out the effect of a waiver.

Division 5—Suspension or variation of registration in urgent circumstances

38—Suspension or variation of registration where veterinarian charged with certain offences or unacceptable risk to animals

This clause allows the Board to suspend the registration of a veterinarian or vary the conditions of a veterinarian's registration if the Board becomes aware that the veterinarian has been charged with an offence prescribed by the regulations or the Board reasonably suspects that the veterinarian poses an unacceptable risk to animals.

Part 4—Registration of premises at which veterinary services provided

39—Registers

This clause sets out the registers that the Executive Officer must keep and maintain for the purpose of registration of veterinary premises and lists the information that must be provided on the veterinary premises register. It also requires a copy of the registers to be published on a website and empowers the Executive Officer to exempt information from the copies of the registers on the website if satisfied it would be inappropriate to disclose that information.

40—Veterinary premises standard

This clause requires the Board to prepare or endorse standards relating to minimum requirements for registered premises. The standard must contain requirements relating to mobile hospitals and clinics.

41—Responsible person in respect of registered premises

This clause requires there to be a responsible person in respect of each registered premises and sets out who that person is in different circumstances.

42—Registration by Board of premises as registered premises

This clause sets out the circumstances in which premises are eligible for registration and how an application for registration must be made. It also states that registration of premises remains in force for a period specified by the Board (not exceeding 3 years) and empowers the Board to impose conditions on registration.

43—Suspension or cancellation of registration

This clause allows the Board to suspend or cancel registration of premises in specified circumstances.

44—Removal from register

This clause requires the Executive Officer to remove premises from the veterinary premises register in specified circumstances.

45—Reinstatement on register

This clause requires the Board to reinstate premises on the veterinary premises register if the premises are eligible for registration and sets out how an application for reinstatement must be made.

46—Fees

This clause provides that premises will not be granted registration or reinstatement of registration on the veterinary premises register until the relevant fee has been paid.

47—Contravention of conditions of registration

This clause makes it an offence for a responsible person in respect of premises to contravene a condition of the registration of the premises with a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months.

48—Requirement to inform Board of changes

This clause requires a responsible person in respect of registered premises to inform the Board of changes to certain information and fixes a maximum penalty of $250 for a contravention.

Part 5—Veterinary practice

Division 1—Veterinary practice

49—Veterinary services to be provided by veterinarians

This clause prohibits a person from providing veterinary services for money or other consideration unless the person is a veterinarian and fixes a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months. It also sets out exceptions to the prohibition.

50—Veterinary services must be provided at registered premises

This clause prohibits a veterinarian from providing veterinary services at premises that are not registered premises and fixes a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months. It also sets out exceptions to the prohibition and provides that it is a defence to the prohibition for the defendant to prove that they did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have known, that the premises were not registered premises.

51—Offence to carry on certain businesses other than at registered premises

This clause prohibits a business consisting of, or including, the provision of veterinary services from being carried on at premises that are not registered premises and provides that each person prescribed by the clause is guilty of an offence if the prohibition is contravened. It fixes a maximum penalty of $20,000 and sets out exceptions to the prohibition.

52—Veterinarian to hold certain insurance

This clause prohibits a veterinarian from providing veterinary services for money or other consideration unless insured in a manner and to an extent determined by the Board against civil liability incurred in the course of providing those services and fixes a maximum penalty of $10,000. It also allows the Board to provide exemptions from the requirements of the clause.

Division 2—Improperly influencing veterinarians etc

53—Application of Division

This clause sets out who the Division applies to and does not apply to.

54—Undue influence

This clause prohibits a person to whom the Division applies from inducing or attempting to induce a veterinarian to provide, or not provide, veterinary services, or veterinary services of a specified class, by dishonesty or undue influence and fixes a maximum penalty of $20,000.

55—Improper directions etc to veterinarian

This clause prohibits a person to whom the Division applies from requiring, inducing or encouraging a veterinarian to engage in conduct in the course of providing veterinary services that would constitute unprofessional conduct or does not reflect current standards of veterinary practice in South Australia and fixes a maximum penalty of $20,000.

Division 3—Other offences relating to veterinary practices etc

56—Offence to give, offer or accept benefit for recommendation or prescription

This clause makes it an offence—

for any person to give, or offer to give, a veterinarian or prescribed relative of a veterinarian a benefit as an inducement, consideration or reward for the veterinarian recommending a prescribed veterinary service or prescribing or recommending a veterinary product manufactured, sold or supplied by the person;

for a veterinarian or prescribed relative of a veterinarian to accept from any person a benefit offered or given as a inducement, consideration or reward for such a recommendation or prescription.

In each case a maximum penalty of $20,000 is fixed for a contravention.

57—Illegal holding out as veterinarian or specialist

This clause makes it an offence for a person to hold themselves out as a veterinarian, specialist or particular class of specialist or permit another person to do so unless registered on the appropriate register or in the appropriate specialty. It also makes it an offence for a person to hold out another as a veterinarian, specialist or particular class of specialist unless the other person is registered on the appropriate register or in the appropriate specialty. In each case, a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months is fixed.

58—Illegal holding out concerning limitations or conditions

This clause makes it an offence for a person whose registration is limited or conditional to hold themselves out, or permit another person to hold them out, as having registration that is not subject to a limitation or condition. It also makes it an offence for a person to hold out another whose registration is limited or conditional as having registration that is not subject to a limitation or condition. In each case, a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months is fixed.

59—Illegal holding out concerning registered premises

This clause makes it an offence to hold out that particular premises are registered unless the premises are registered under the measure. It also makes it an offence to hold out that veterinary services or services of a particular kind are, or can be, provided at particular premises unless those services can be lawfully provided at those premises. In each case, a maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months is fixed.

60—Use of certain titles or descriptions prohibited

This clause prohibits a person who is not appropriately registered from using certain words or their derivatives to describe themselves or services that they provide, or in the course of advertising or promoting services that they provide. A maximum penalty of $20,000 is fixed for each offence.

Part 6—Medical fitness to provide veterinary services

61—Medical fitness to provide veterinary services

This clause provides that in making a determination under the measure as to a person's medical fitness to provide veterinary services, regard must be given to the question of whether the person is able to provide veterinary services personally to an animal without putting the animal at significant risk of serious injury or harm.

62—Duty to report medical unfitness of veterinarian

This clause imposes a duty on health professionals to inform the Board if they are of the opinion that a veterinarian they have treated, or are treating, is or may be unable, as a result of a physical or mental illness, disability or deficiency, to provide veterinary services personally to an animal without putting the animal at significant risk of serious injury or harm. It requires a health professional who makes such a report to the Board to notify the veterinarian of that fact and the nature of the information provided. A person incurs no civil or criminal liability in carrying out their duty under this clause.

63—Medical fitness of veterinarian

This clause empowers the Board to suspend the registration of a veterinarian, impose conditions on registration restricting the right to provide veterinary services or other conditions requiring the person to undergo counselling or treatment, or to enter into any other undertaking if, on application by the Executive Officer or Minister or after an investigation, and after due inquiry, the Board is satisfied that the veterinarian is medically unfit to provide veterinary services and that it is in the public interest to take such action.

64—Proceedings before Board under Part

This clause sets out provisions relating to proceedings before the Board regarding medical fitness, including the powers of the Board to summons witnesses and require the production of documents and other evidence for the purposes of those proceedings.

Part 7—Complaints, investigations and proceedings

Division 1—Preliminary

65—Interpretation

This clause provides that a reference in the Part to a veterinarian includes a reference to a person who is not but who was, at the relevant time, a veterinarian under this measure or a veterinary surgeon or veterinary practitioner under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1985 or the Veterinary Practice Act 2003.

66—Proper cause for disciplinary action

This clause sets out what constitutes proper cause for disciplinary action against a veterinarian.

Division 2—Complaints

67—Board to establish processes for complaints

This clause requires the Board to establish administrative processes for receiving and dealing with complaints received about the conduct of veterinarians and sets out certain matters the administrative processes must address.

68—Making complaint about veterinarian etc

This clause allows an aggrieved person to make, and the Board to initiate, a complaint about the conduct of a veterinarian in accordance with the Board's administrative processes.

69—Assessment of complaints

This clause requires the Board to cause each complaint to be assessed to determine how the complaint should be dealt with and sets out the complaints that do not need to be assessed.

70—Dismissal of certain complaints

This clause sets out when the Board must and may dismiss a complaint.

71—Decision to take no further action

This clause allows the Board to take no further action in relation to a complaint if it thinks it appropriate in the circumstances.

Division 3—Certain complaints may be resolved by Board

72—Application etc of Division

This clause provides that the Division applies to particular complaints, or complaints of a class, determined by the Board after consultation with the Minister and requires notice of each determination, and variation of a determination, to be published on a website. It also sets out the principles that the Board must have regard to, and seek to give effect to, in respect of the operation of the Division.

73—Complaints that may be dealt with under Division

This clause allows the regulations to specify the kinds of complaints and conduct that may, or may not, be determined by the Board to be complaints that can be dealt with by Board resolution.

74—Dealing with matters by way of Board resolution

This clause provides that a matter to which the Division applies is to be referred to the Executive Officer for resolution and sets out requirements in respect of dealing with the matter. It sets out the circumstances in which conciliation must take place and allows the Board to take certain action, or order the taking of certain action, after consultation with the Executive Officer.

75—Duty of Executive Officer with respect to conflict of interest

This clause requires the Executive Officer to disclose interests that may conflict with their duties in resolving a matter and comply with any directions given by the Board to resolve a conflict between the duties and interests.

76—Monitoring of Board resolutions

This clause requires complaints dealt with under the Division to be monitored and reviewed to maintain proper and consistent practices.

Division 4—Investigations

77—Investigation of complaints

This clause requires the Board to cause an investigation to be undertaken into each complaint to be dealt with under Division 5 or, if satisfied an investigation is unnecessary, to lodge a complaint in relation to the matter with SACAT. It also sets out the actions the Board may take following an investigation.

Division 5—Disciplinary action before Tribunal

78—Hearing by Tribunal as to matters constituting grounds for disciplinary action

This clause allows the Board or Minister to lodge a complaint setting out matters that are alleged to constitute grounds for disciplinary action against a person with SACAT and sets out the orders SACAT may make. It also allows SACAT to suspend a veterinarian's registration pending the outcome of SACAT proceedings if it thinks it is necessary due to a serious risk to the health and safety of the public or health and welfare of animals.

79—Constitution of Tribunal

This clause sets out how SACAT will be constituted for proceedings under the Act and requires SACAT to establish a panel of assessors.

80—Punishment of conduct that constitutes offence

This clause provides that if conduct constitutes both an offence against the measure and grounds for disciplinary action under the measure, the taking of disciplinary action is not a bar to conviction and punishment for the offence, and conviction and punishment for the offence is not a bar to disciplinary action.

81—No internal review by Tribunal of decision under Division etc

This clause provides that a decision of SACAT under this Division cannot be the subject of an application for internal review and disapplies certain provisions of the South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 in relation to an appeal against such a decision.

Part 8—Inspectors

82—Guidelines

This clause requires the Board to publish guidelines about the conduct of investigations and inspections on a website.

83—Inspectors

This clause empowers the Board to authorise persons to be inspectors for the purposes of the measure.

84—Functions of inspectors

This clause sets out the functions of inspectors.

85—Powers of inspectors

This clause sets out the powers of inspectors.

86—Offence to hinder etc inspector

This clause makes it an offence for a person to hinder an inspector, use certain language to an inspector, refuse or fail to comply with a requirement of an inspector, refuse or fail to answer questions to the best of the person's knowledge, information and belief, or falsely represent that the person is an inspector. A maximum penalty of $10,000 is fixed.

Part 9—Review of certain decisions by Tribunal

87—Review of certain decisions by Tribunal

This clause confers SACAT with jurisdiction to deal with matters consisting of the review of specified decisions.

88—Variation or revocation of conditions imposed by Tribunal

This clause empowers SACAT to vary or revoke a condition imposed on a veterinarian's registration at any time on application by the veterinarian and provides that the Board is entitled to appear and be heard on such an application.

Part 10—Miscellaneous

89—Exemptions

This clause allows the Minister to exempt a specified person or a specified class of persons from the operation of a provision or provisions of the measure and sets out the notice requirements. It also allows the Minister to vary or revoke an exemption for any reason the Minister thinks fit and makes it an offence for a person to contravene a condition of an exemption. A maximum penalty of $20,000 is fixed for contravention of a condition.

90—Contact details to be provided to Chief Executive

This clause requires the Board to, every 3 months or on request, provide to the Chief Executive a list of contact details for each veterinarian registered under the measure and restricts the uses of the details to specified circumstances.

91—False or misleading statement

This clause prohibits a person from making a statement that is false or misleading in a material particular in information provided under the measure. A maximum penalty of $20,000 is fixed.

92—Procurement of registration by fraud

This clause makes it an offence for a person to fraudulently or dishonestly procure registration or reinstatement of registration (whether for themselves or another person). A maximum penalty of $20,000 or imprisonment for 6 months is fixed.

93—Self-incrimination and legal professional privilege

This clause provides that a person cannot refuse or fail to answer a question or produce documents as required under the measure on the ground that to do so might tend to incriminate the person or make the person liable to a penalty or on the ground of legal professional privilege.

If a person objects on either of the first two grounds, the fact of production of the document or the information furnished is not admissible against the person except in proceedings in respect of making a false or misleading statement or perjury. If a person objects on the ground of legal professional privilege, the answer or document is not admissible in civil or criminal proceedings against the person who would, but for this clause, have the benefit of that privilege.

94—Confidentiality

This clause prohibits a person who obtained personal information in the course of the administration of the measure, the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1985 or the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 from divulging any such information except in certain circumstances. A maximum penalty of $10,000 is fixed.

Any information disclosed under this clause must not be used for any other purpose by the person to whom it is disclosed or by any other person who gains access to the information as a result of the disclosure. A maximum penalty of $10,000 is fixed.

95—Victimisation

This clause prohibits a person from victimising another person on the ground, or substantially on the ground, that the other person has disclosed or intends to disclose information, or has made or intends to make an allegation, that has given rise or could give rise to proceedings against the person under this measure. Victimisation is the causing of detriment including injury, damage or loss, intimidation or harassment, threats of reprisals, or discrimination, disadvantage or adverse treatment in relation to the victim's employment or business. An act of victimisation may be dealt with as a tort or as if it were an act of victimisation under the Equal Opportunity Act 1984.

96—Arrangements between Board and interstate registration authorities

This clause allows for a national database for veterinarians and for other purposes related to the recognition of people engaged in providing veterinary services, practice or treatment in other jurisdictions to be established.

97—Notification of disciplinary action to interstate registration authorities

This clause requires the Board to notify each interstate registration authority of any disciplinary action taken against a veterinarian under the measure or of any other action of a prescribed kind.

98—Evidentiary provision

This clause requires specified matters to be accepted as proved in the absence of proof to the contrary in legal proceedings (including Tribunal proceedings). It also allows specified matters to be proved in legal proceedings (including Tribunal proceedings) by means of a certificate.

99—Regulations and fee notices

This clause provides power to make regulations and to prescribe fees by fee notice.

Schedule 1—Related amendments, repeals and transitional provisions

Part 1—Amendment of Agricultural and Veterinary Products (Control of Use) Act 2002

Part 2—Amendment of Animal Welfare Act 1985

Part 3—Amendment of Controlled Substances Act 1984

Part 4—Amendment of Dog and Cat Management Act 1995

Part 5—Amendment of Health Care Act 2008

Part 6—Amendment of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law (South Australia) Act 2010

Part 7—Amendment of Livestock Act 1997

These Parts make related amendments to the Acts specified consequential to the enactment of the measure.

Part 8—Repeal of Veterinary Practice Act 2003

1—Repeal of Act

This clause repeals the Veterinary Practice Act 2003.

Part 9—Transitional provisions

This Part makes transitional provisions in respect of the enactment of the measure and the repeal of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003.

Ms SAVVAS (Newland) (12:03): It is a pleasure to speak today about the Veterinary Services Bill and acknowledge the wonderful work that vets do across our state, particularly in my community in Tea Tree Gully. Veterinarians play a key role in animal, human and community wellbeing. All of us have had different experiences with vet services and really seen the value that vets bring to our own lives.

Australia has one of the highest proportions of pet ownership in the world and for my entire life I have had beloved pets. We grew up with both cats and dogs and used to take our pets to Vets4Pets at Dernancourt or to Holden Hill Veterinary Clinic, which was affectionately known as 'the rainbow vet' because of the beautiful, large rainbow sign on the outside of the building.

In 2022, Australian households are estimated to have spent about $4.7 billion on veterinary services. I was indeed one of those, as my dear cat Louis needed an overnight admission stay at the Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital after contracting the cat flu. Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital is a wonderful place, a place that takes extraordinary care of the many animals that come through its doors, not just from Tea Tree Gully but of course from the northern Adelaide Hills. I know that a number of the rural properties at Chain of Ponds, particularly, take their animals down to the Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital, and they have done so for many years.

I also remember all too well the care they took of my big dog Boston—an enormous bundle of hyperactivity; I would not wish him upon any vet—when he was being desexed and further as he struggled to recover from his surgery. Unfortunately, he is not the type of dog to understand what it means to rest. They also looked after Louis in his hospital stay. I am sure they will continue to support my community and the pets in my community for years to come.

Veterinarians also support the $5.3 billion South Australian livestock industry. Veterinarians are crucial in detecting diseases and responding to emergency animal disease incursions, with these activities both supporting and protecting the domestic and export markets. They play a really crucial role here in Australia, knowing the degree of our exports and the contribution that we make as an exporter around the world. I would like to acknowledge the vital role that vets play, not just in the pet market but also in our trade market.

Currently, veterinary practice and the veterinary profession in South Australia are regulated by the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 and the Veterinary Practice Regulations 2017. The veterinary profession and animal care industry have evolved significantly since 2003, when the current legislative framework first came into effect.

The role of the Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia, the body responsible for regulating the veterinary profession, has also changed during this time, most notably with the responsibility for hearing and determining alleged unprofessional conduct by veterinarians transferring to SACAT in 2020. The new Veterinary Services Bill seeks to address these changes and ensure that veterinary practice regulation in the state is flexible and aligns with both the contemporary nature of the profession and the standards expected by users and providers of veterinary services.

Feedback from a 2020 review of the Veterinary Practice Act identified a raft of potential legislative changes that indicated it would be effective to propose new legislation as opposed to making a large number of amendments to the current act. A key change is that the bill proposes a variation to the definition of veterinary treatment. 'Veterinary treatment' will become 'veterinary services', and the definition will be updated for clarity and to more accurately reflect the services delivered by the profession in 2023. Of course, we very much value our vets, and we know that the services can be incredibly complex. Wording does matter, as does accurate acknowledgement of the services provided by our veterinarians.

In addition to the Tea Tree Gully Veterinary Hospital that I mentioned before, I would also like to acknowledge the vet right next door to my office, Vets4Pets at Ridgehaven. Vets4Pets provide an enormous service in our community, particularly with the emergency care service at Golden Grove. I have sad memories of taking our cat to be put down at Golden Grove on a public holiday after he was bitten by a snake when I was a kid, but I do recall very specific conversations with my parents about how lucky we were to have an emergency vet service nearby so that Batman—my little brother named the cat Batman, not me—could receive urgent and humane end-of-life care.

Vets4Pets have rightfully also had some time in the spotlight this year, as they featured on a television program called For the Love of Pets, which was a 16-part series and an insight into what is said to be the busiest vet hospital in South Australia. I watched keenly, as it was highlighting our local community and I recognised some of the vets and some of the clients coming in with their pets. It really showcased the work around the vet hospital and gave a real insight into the incredibly powerful and important work done by local vets.

This bill aims to improve the regulation of the veterinary profession here in South Australia. The Veterinary Surgeons Board of South Australia will become the Veterinary Services Regulatory Board and will be modernised and transformed to better serve the needs of both veterinary users and providers. The board will have the option to appropriately resolve matters that are of a less serious nature where formal disciplinary proceedings are deemed to be unnecessary because many of those matters can be instead addressed with education and training, with a goal of improving the future conduct of the veterinarian concerned, particularly in the case of junior vets.

Compliance with minimum requirements for veterinary premises will be supported by new offence provisions and the ability to inspect the premises. Another major change in the bill is the increased transparency it offers veterinarians and consumers regarding the handling of complaints concerning the conduct of registered veterinarians.

Pets, for so many of us, are loved ones—parts of our family. We want to ensure that there is both transparency for pet owners and protections for those vets who are doing their jobs. We know that losing a pet or having a pet with an injury or an illness can be quite an emotive time for individuals. Of course, individuals grieve pets in the same way that often you would grieve any other member of your family, when the pet particularly is dear to you. We do want to make sure that vets are protected in those circumstances as well.

The bill enables the option for the board to provide conciliation, and it also retains the ability for the board to refer complaints of a more serious nature to SACAT if required. Certain information in respect of complaints received about the conduct of veterinarians will be included in the annual report to further support transparency in the profession.

Finally, the bill will remove unnecessary offence provisions, instead enabling requirements pertaining to professional conduct to be set out in professional codes, standards and guidelines where relevant. This will ensure a contemporary and flexible approach to regulation that can accommodate further changes to the profession as we move forward.

I very much want to finish today by again acknowledging the vital work that vets do. We all know the role that pets have in our own lives. I know for myself, growing up we always had cats and dogs, if not birds because my mum would often find a bird that hurt itself in the garden and bring it in, and we were often taking injured pets out to the vet and seeking their support.

I do really want to acknowledge the role that vets play because, particularly for those who are living on their own or people without family and close friends of their own, pets can exist as a family where often there are not other supports. I think that that is a really important thing that pets do, but of course the service that vets provide to ensure that people are able to have those companions is really important as well. I very much commend the bill and look forward to its hopeful passage this morning.

Mr WHETSTONE (Chaffey) (12:13): I rise to let the chamber know that I will be the lead speaker on this bill. It is a very important bill. The Veterinary Services Bill 2023 is bringing the veterinary science and the veterinary industry into line with modern-day expectation. What we should first and foremost understand is that the Veterinary Services Bill modernises the needs of a very complex industry. The industry is there for different parts of veterinary practices—animal health, animal wellbeing—but it is also an institution that is there for the mental health of human beings and for the wellbeing of animal husbandry and the competitive nature that we as racegoers will sometimes take for granted but the industry does not.

I think it is really important that we understand the deeper impact of what the veterinary industry means to a number of sectors in mainstream society, what it means to the economy, what it means to the health and wellbeing of animals and, as I have said, the contribution that it makes to human behaviour and human companionship.

It needs to be also very well pointed out that a very important part of the industry, which I think goes under the radar, is a working animal. A working dog by most people's understanding cannot be overstated in terms of not only what they mean to the livestock industry but also how they help the agricultural sector, as well as helping people in isolated regional communities. I come from a farming family and a family that has dealt with a significant amount of isolation over a long period of time. It also comes on the back of some of the livestock sectors that rely on that working animal.

Obviously, as I have said, the livestock industry is a crucial part of this bill as is the racing industry, and I know that a number of members here will contribute. We talk about pets and pet ownership, but we also talk about the significant economy that comes from that. Let's just unpack it. We will start with a small animal vet because there are a number of sectors within veterinary science that need to be understood I think a little more. When we talk about small animal vets, we are usually referring to vets for domesticated pets, household pets.

For different reasons, people have pets, whether it is for company, whether it is as a working dog, whether it is as a guard dog or a guard animal or whether it is a hobby. We have different pets for different hobbies. I know that in a previous life I used to watch a lot of wildlife in the outback, particularly in some of the uncharted country up in the oil and gas fields, where we see animals that come out of nowhere. They come out of holes in the ground, they come out of rock pools, they come out of the water and they come out of the sky. What we have very quickly realised as a society is that different people are looking for different types of relationships or different types of exposure to animals, and it is all underpinned by a veterinary service.

You might be looking to collect pets that live in an aquarium. Whether it be a fish, whether it be a reptile or whether it be a bird, as I understand it an animal collection, animal hobby or just acquiring an everyday pet is a growing sector. What we see in most of mainstream society is that everyone loves to have a pet of some sort. The majority of people, mainstream society, look to a cat or a dog as a pet not only for company and conversation but also, as I said, for mental simulation.

Normally for most of my life we always had dogs, and mostly working dogs, but along the way we have also had household pets that have been great company for children. They are great company in terms of the fabric of a farming community, whether they are just for the family, whether they are part of the workforce within a farm or whether they are a pet that is part of what we like to think of as our family-friendly backyard.

Over time, we have seen a change in those animals. We are now seeing different breeds come into mainstream society, breeds that potentially do not shed hair, that grow to a certain size and have a very mild temperament. Those animals, I think, are now fitting a mould of inner-city suburbia, where they are prepared to cope with confined spaces. Again, they do not create a lot of the work that a lot of the thoroughbred animals do.

Anyone who has had a thoroughbred dog or cat understands the amount of moulting that they do, the amount of work that you have to put in to keep floors, furniture and the like clean in the household. We need to understand that the changes in needs, the changes in society's expectation with animals, are about the ease. It is no easy undertaking to own a pet and just go by the wayside when it comes to the attention that they need, the feeding.

They need a vet regularly, because they are just like we humans: they need care, they need their teeth fixed, they need their bones fixed, they need disease fixed and they need external intervention dealt with sometimes. I have had a number of animals that have endured snakebites. They have endured getting tangled up with some of our native animals. Many a time, I have had to pull apart dogs that have been tangled up with a kangaroo, deal with cats that are dealing with predatory birds, deal with all sorts of those interactions. At the end of the day, that normally requires a vet to come in and play a role in making sure that our animal is managed, dealt with, repaired, medicated and then gets back into the environment that we expect.

We have 900 registered vets in South Australia and, as I have said, we have a number of sectors within the veterinary industry. I have talked a little about household pets and what those small animal vets do, but we also have to understand that we have large animal vets and they also usually look after a sector. I call it livestock. The racing industry has a role to play, particularly with large animals. More times than not, it is to do with limbs. It is normally to do with making sure that we deal with some of the ailments that larger animals have.

They normally suffer issues with feet and they suffer issues with joints, but sometimes they can also need a vet to intervene when we are starting to talk breeding or when we are starting to talk the complexities of a large animal that is competing. Whether it be a thoroughbred, harness, equestrian or a trial rider, or whether it be a farm or an open paddock friend or pet, we have to make sure that veterinary intervention is there for the betterment of all of those industries.

Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world. Some say it is a luxury, but I say that in many instances they are there for a very good reason. As I have said, company and companionship have a big role to play. I do not know too many pets at home that argue back. I do not know too many that give you a mouthful of lip when you have told them off or when you want them to do something that they do not want to do. I think it should be understood that humans and pets sometimes become one, and it is only when vets are called that that relationship is restored and the pet can go about its expected day-to-day life.

Obviously, what I would like to touch on is about the economy that comes from animals and pets. Households spent about $33 billion on pets only last year, and 14 per cent of that expenditure, $14.7 billion, was spent on veterinary services. The important role they play in a modern society cannot be understated. I have been to a lot of isolated communities that are dealing with pets, with small animals, that do not have veterinary services. In most instances, it is a sight that brings a tear to one's eye.

I have seen a number of times where dogs, mostly, have not received the veterinary service they needed, and those animals, sadly, in many instances, will have a slow and painful death, whether it be from mange, whether it be from a tick infestation, whether it be from a disease, whether it be from malnourishment—for all different reasons, that is when intervention by a vet is an important presence.

Along the way what we must understand is that the Veterinary Services Bill today is to improve not only the industry, not only the selection of the process to put good people into advisory services, but to make sure that those good people are there for the betterment of the industry, and that significant spend on pet ownership cannot be understated.

I do not have the numbers of the intervention by vets on some of the racing industry. I will touch on that. Nationally, it is a $9.15 billion industry here, the thoroughbred industry. On the back of that, we have the harness sector, the harness industry, as well as the equestrian and the trial sector. They are significant contributors not only to the sport but to making sure that those animals are in mainstream looked after. Some would say that in most instances these animals are treated better than their human counterparts.

As former shadow for sport, rec and racing, I witnessed over a long period of time the care that is given to all forms of the racing industry. The thoroughbred industry cannot be understated. It is a multibillion-dollar industry. The owners, the trainers, the handlers, the jockeys and the ownership groups that look after animals have to be commended for the effort, the time and the care they put into the industry.

Some of those events are overshadowed by what we see as some of the world-class racing events. I note that the most rewarded horse races in the world, the Saudi Cup and the Dubai World Cup, are significant races that, on a world stage, show what human intervention with animals does. There is an element of mainstream society that is concerned about the way those animals are cared for, but I can assure them that those animals are given the best of the best. They are given the best of the veterinary service, they are given the best of training, they are given the best of handling and care, and the environment that they live and train in cannot be understated.

Here in South Australia, even in my electorate, there are a number of training facilities. There is one at Murbko and there are a number at Angaston in the Barossa Valley. I know that the member for Schubert is keeping a very close eye on the great contribution that those facilities make into the racing industry, because they are some of the best facilities in the country. Of course, just recently we have seen the Spring Racing Carnival and we saw the $21 million The Everest run and won.

With racing here in Australia, nationally, the Melbourne Cup has always been the golden event people flock to because it has been renowned for many, many decades as the premier event in the country. Of course, the commercial intervention is always trying to take the focus off the Melbourne Cup, and I think that is what has happened at The Everest. Obviously the Golden Eagle and the Breeders' Cup are two other notable races where we see those thoroughbred horses are racing at the top of their game.

I will not go into the harness sector too much. It is a sector that is supported and buoyed by very, very passionate people, people who care for their animals like no other but, of course, there is always an element—when I say an element, I mean there are always situations that arise from the racing industry and where we have hiccups along the way. It is a little bit like when a crime is committed: the first thing we do is ring the police. Well, in the animal industry when there is an incident the first person they call is the vet. The vet is always that person who is relied on to come to the aid of an animal that is distressed, injured or sick. It cannot be understated how important the veterinary services are.

The stakeholder engagement has been a big part of this bill. Along the way, the consultation by the former Liberal government saw a significant amount of consultation between 2020 and 2021, including representation from the Australian Veterinary Association, particularly here in South Australia through their SA Division; we had input from the Law Society of South Australia; Livestock SA; the South Australian Dairyfarmers' Association; a number, or many, private veterinarians; and Sophie's legacy—Garry and Kate Putland gave great feedback; as did Helen Gibb, who is a psychologist. Yes, there are psychologists for animals. They, too, have feelings and they, too, have a mental undertaking, I guess, of having to be in a good state, and that is why those organisations were a go-to when looking to deal with the Veterinary Services Bill.

Obviously as part of the review of the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 and the Veterinary Practice Regulations 2017, in December 2022 the draft bill was prepared following stakeholder feedback. This bill is a combination of veterinarian voices from right around South Australia who came to the former government and, of course, the government and the minister of the day listened. I think what we have seen along the way are a number of amendments that have been through the other place. They were widely supported, which I think is a great show of common sense

Putting politics to one side, this is a serious conversation to be had about how we better serve the veterinary sector and also how we better serve the care of all animals, both small and large. The extensive stakeholder engagement was essentially listening to the veterinary community. It was about listening to industry and getting the maximum amount of feedback so that we could make a fully informed decision on making sure that this Veterinary Services Bill was relevant. There were ears that listened, more so than what we are doing now in this chamber, which is doing a lot of talking.

A number of amendment have been supported in the other place and I want to commend the leader in the upper house, a former vet herself, for her good work. I think she has put a significant amount of work into this bill, making sure that she represents an industry she had charter of within her working life for somewhere between 10 and 12 years. They are the credentials that I stand with here today with the brief I have taken from her—the consultation she had with industry that we as a loyal opposition are putting to the government of the day.

One of the most important amendments concerns the tribunal's constitution and ensuring it is in line with other professions, subject to review by the tribunal. The South Australian Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 stipulates that the tribunal should have no more than three assessors; however, the current bill stipulates that only one member be a registered veterinarian. I am very pleased that the government has presented an amendment. I think when we take that to committee it is something that will complement the current bill before us so we are doing everything we can to make sure that the Veterinary Services Bill is the best that it can possibly be in the current day situation.

It makes practical veterinary experience just one-third and I am hoping that this amendment will override that. We need to understand that, when disciplinary action is necessary, one member does not provide the knowledge required for such a complex industry. The amendment suggests increasing to a panel of two members, and this position is supported across the industry and was widely supported in the other place by the opposition and the crossbench. I thank the government for their bipartisan approach to what is such an important bill.

I want to touch on another couple of sectors within the livestock sector that I think are very important and where vets play a significant role. AI is probably one of the great modern-day technologies within livestock, whether it be in the racing industry, whether it be in bloodline breeding or whether it be in the dairy industry. I am sure the member for Finniss has been up to his elbows in it at certain times as have I. One of my lasting memories as a young fellow was helping my grandfather out by having to put on the long glove and making sure that things—

Mr Pederick: You had gloves?

Mr WHETSTONE: I digress. I do not know whether the member for Hammond has ever had the long glove on, but I can assure you that it is an industry that is now relying on technology more and more. Vets are now more qualified and have more of a professional understanding about artificial insemination and what that means. I think that what we are seeing now does form a genetic balance, a genetic improvement, in some of the bloodlines. For livestock, in particular, we have seen a significant change over the last 12 months, or I could say the last decade, or I could say the last two and three decades. It is a constant improvement. Vets—mostly large animal vets—have risen to the occasion.

I know that out at Roseworthy we have a significant equine centre that is looking at some of the great work being done by vets, particularly those in the equine industry. My background obviously was cattle and sheep breeding with my family farm, particularly in the South-East and then into the Mid North. But, as I have said, along the way I have had family members who have had dairies, and we have seen the significant change in the landscape and what it means now to rely more and more on a vet's intervention, whether it be for care and maintenance, for breeding, or for advice.

One of my most recent trips up through South Australia into Queensland was to visit all of the S. Kidman & Co. properties and to have a look at some of the care and maintenance facilities, and the onsite veterinary services that have been put into those properties cannot be understated. What the livestock industry has seen over such a long period of time is working with the livestock industry, working with the farmers, being on the ground, understanding the natural environment, how we can improve an animal's life and how we can stimulate an animal, keep it healthy and keep its dietary requirements up to speed.

I vividly remember my grandfather saying that 'the best way to tell a healthy animal is by its coat'. Whether it has a leather coat or a fur coat, it is whether it has a shiny gloss and whether it is out there going its merry way. If it is a dairy cow coming into the dairy, producing its quota of milk, it is about making sure that when those cows dry off or when they are put into calf, they are put in there with the best possible chance of reproducing and making sure that the next generation of that animal comes along and is a contributor to that property's economy, and also making sure that that property has accreditation, making sure that the animal husbandry is second to none.

I am very proud to say that here in South Australia we are an exemplar when it comes to animal care, particularly in the livestock industry. I guess along the way we have seen some detractors within the livestock sector and there has been a minority that have misbehaved when it comes to animal care, animal husbandry, but that is not the mainstream. When we look at government intervention when it comes to the livestock industry, it always ends in tears—always. If we reflect on live trade, if we reflect on the greyhound industry, if we reflect on some of the animal industries—I will put it as broadly as I can—they are not a representative of the majority. Sadly, they are the minority, and that minority makes the majority look bad in some instances.

My father was a great, well-respected stock agent here in South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. A lot of my travels as a young fellow—for any of you, maybe the Minister for Trade being an Adelaide Plains kind of person growing up would understand the amount of miles that stock agents travel to visit, to buy, to sell animals—sheep, cattle, horses in the main—and would understand that the amount of care needed to breed animals, to grow animals, to transport animals, then move them to new homes or move them into processing facilities should not be understated. In the care that we see with that movement now, we are seeing sophisticated trucks and trailers for the care of those animals, and we see the sophistication with the yards that are now providing a significant amount of shade. They provide rubbing equipment. They provide stimulation mechanisms, making sure that those animals are looked after.

Getting back to the live trade, as a young fella I did make one trip on a sheep ship over to Kuwait, and my father was head of that consignment. There were 100,000 sheep on that boat, and back in those days it really did need some improvement. I think through the course of the livestock representative industries—the vets and the veterinary sector, and governments—we have seen a significant shift in animal care, but there are always detractors.

I am very proud that my father was one of the pioneers when we were looking to put pelletised food onto ships to make sure that we were giving them better nutrition. They were better cared for and the watering points were improved, and that made the condition of the ship floor much better and much safer.

We have to understand that when a lot of ships leave the port, when they are headed to a faraway place, it is not always smooth sailing. They can go through storms, heat and all sorts of adversity, and it is about making sure that those transport ships are best prepared and that the animals are best looked after and best managed and maintained. I think it really is chalk and cheese, that what we have seen over the last couple of decades has changed significantly.

Again, once we saw government intervention, particularly with the cattle trade, we saw a significant amount of uncertainty put into the industry, and that is when vets have to come in to put animals down because they have no value, or they have no home. We have seen that recently with another government announcement. The current federal government has intentions to cease the live trade of sheep. What we are seeing here in South Australia is a significant pinch point.

In Western Australia, there was a significant reliance on live trade. Now that the government have signalled their intention, we have many truckloads—and when I say 'many' I mean thousands —of sheep coming into South Australia. That freight is subsidised by the Western Australian government. It is now putting pressure on the markets here in South Australia, and so it creates a supply and demand situation. It creates pinch points in markets. Then we see the decrease in the price of animals. Again we are seeing sheep now being shot because of irrational government decisions that are really putting pressure on an industry that has been pushed into a corner.

I think the government has responded to the squeaky wheel, to a small, green minority that really needs to better understand just what the current situation is. This is all backed up by vets. We go to a vet when we are looking for better ways to manage, maintain and care for animals, and the live trade is no different. That is just to give an understanding of what the live trade has meant.

I was recently on Kangaroo Island. Obviously, the trade and investment portfolio is very important on the island because they have to maximise every facet of primary industries, of horticulture, of livestock, of seed breeding. What we are seeing is prime animals on the island being put down because of the constraints with the logistical challenges of getting those animals off the island. Once they get them onto the mainland, they have no value. So, rather than putting an animal into a truck, onto a boat and onto the mainland and taking it to market where it has no value, it is being put down. They are being put into pits, and it is an absolute crime. It is an absolute crime to see that done with a prime Kangaroo Island lamb.

For what it is worth, a Kangaroo Island animal of any persuasion is a smaller animal than a mainland animal. They normally have their different attributes by and large. A lot of those animals, whether they are grass fed or whether they are grain fed, are high-value animals for the processor. When we see breeders or farmers putting animals down through no fault of their own, it again highlights the inaccuracy by governments in dealing with an industry that is so very important.

It is one of our great export industries. It is important here in South Australia and nationally, in Australia. It cannot be overstated that the industry needs to have certainty. If I had my way there would be no government intervention. Yes, there needs to be regulation. Yes, there need to be guidelines and care put into legislation and regulations dealing with animal husbandry, dealing with animal care and maintenance, but when we have a squeaky wheel dictating the agenda of the government of the day, it really does beggar belief. It has unintended consequences. Again, this is where vets play an important role. Vets are a sounding board, they are the go-to. As I said, vets are the calling card whenever there is an issue with an animal, big or small.

Along the way, it cannot be overstated that what we are seeing here in South Australia, here in this chamber, is a significant level of bipartisanship. The approach we will see now with the amendment that will be introduced as part of this bill just demonstrates that the government of the day is listening and is working with industry. It is working with those that have contributed and given feedback to this Veterinary Services Bill.

I think it is important that governments of the day need to understand that you cannot put a political agenda on a live thing, whether it be an animal, whether it be a human, whether it be anything that has a pulse. What we are doing today is putting a stronger representative voice, a stronger panel, a stronger understanding, a better standard of expectation and professionalism into the veterinary sector, and that can only be done by good legislators. It can only be done by what I consider a bipartisan approach. That is not to say that the government of the day or the opposition are not listening or they are listening; it is about coming together and looking for the betterment of this sector.

As the veterinary community has said and as the livestock industry has said and as the racing industry has called on, this is a very large set of industries that rely on one stable, and that is good veterinary service. They rely on good advice, they rely on good appointments within veterinary science and within veterinary care but they also rely on that interaction between the vet sector, between legislators, between all the industries that rely so heavily on the animal doctors in making sure we get the best possible outcome we can.

The majority of this bill has been through the other place, and there were some amendments put forward. Some of them were supported; some of them were not. But I think this amendment that will be presented today during the committee stage will really add a shine to what the Veterinary Services Bill 2023 will mean.

It will give confidence to the vet sector that legislators have listened further and that we are moving to making sure that this bill is in the best interests of the industries that rely on vets and on good communicators. Vets make sure that everyday South Australians have a companion next to them, every farmer has a working companion with them and the livestock industry is there providing protein and food to every mouth, three times a day, seven days a week, 365 days of the year.

I think it is also important that when we talk about the economy generated and the expenditure on the veterinary sector and the animal sector, we note that we cannot put a price on the mental health of human beings. I think animals are a significant contributor that has no price. It has no number attached to it. That is why it is so important that this piece of legislation be the best it can be, that we make sure it has the most accurate input and that it is listened to as best it can be. That is why we will move this bill through the house today, with one amendment, and hopefully we will have an outcome at the end of everyone's contribution.

Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (12:55): I rise to support the Veterinary Services Bill 2023. I want to acknowledge the great work that the many hundreds of vets—900 of them—do across South Australia and the many more who work across Australia and, as has been mentioned, work in conjunction with our live cattle and live sheep industries.

I certainly want to pay credit to a couple of vets who were very significant in my young life back in the mid-seventies, when we had a very good commercial Poll Hereford herd: Harry Ousley from Meningie and Jack Redden from Murray Bridge. Both men are still about, which is a good thing. They assisted us—probably more times than we wished, when you get the vet bill—and they were certainly great men when we had issues with the very good commercial herd that dad was running. Dad would have run a stud, but he did not want to do the paperwork.

We sold many bulls throughout the community and it was quite a feature when we were running the Hereford stock. Dad had crook hips, so at times it was left up to us kids to get especially the first-time heifers that were calving into the cattle yards and assist with the process of pulling a calf that had been stuck—obviously, at that age, we would have been calling the vet in—going through the whole process of keeping a heifer upright and throwing spare rails from the cattle yards underneath them, just to keep them in place, and doing the best we could so that we could locate the legs and use the calf-pulling apparatus with the ropes. You essentially jack them out. It was so good to have that veterinary support.

Other times we needed that support were when we had some high feed years and we did not have enough roughage in the cattle. You only get caught once. If they have too much green feed, they can blow up with bloat. It is pretty wild when you see for the first time a vet sticking a knife straight into a beast, into a cow, in the appropriate location to let the air out. It works, and it works very effectively, and keeps the cow alive, mind you. That comes with the training and skill that vets have, and I truly appreciate the great work they do. I seek leave to continue my remarks.

Leave granted; debate adjourned.

Sitting suspended from 12:59 to 14:00.

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