King Colin: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
King Colin: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:961] 
COLIN KING (National—Kaikoura) 
: 
 I stand to speak to the title clause of the Veterinarians Bill. It is quite appropriate that this bill talks about being based on principles rather than being overly prescriptive. However I must commend my fellow members around me in the Chamber for identifying many issues that are related to the devil in the detail around the bill. When we stop and think about the vital role that vets play in the New Zealand economy we realise that it is very important for that body of people to be treated with the due respect and dignity it deserves. Vets have the responsibility of ensuring that we look after the animal welfare biosecurity and food safety of this nation. We have a platinum level of food safety which enables us to export more than $12 billion worth of what we produce in this country and we must say a big thankyou to the people who make up the dedicated body of veterinarians throughout the country. 
Vets are stretched very widely and thinly; therefore it is appropriate that we give serious consideration to them and that we give them the opportunity to be able to adapt to the circumstances they face today. When I see what is happening out in the rural areas I am hugely concerned that we are bogged down in detail because at the end of the day unless we adapt ourselves much as is the case with regard to medical doctors in rural areas we will find that we do not have the ability to respond to biosecurity incursions. We will fall into situations very much like the one that happened at Waiheke Island where the television crews turned up before the vets or the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry authorities. So it is quite important that we recognise the importance of attracting and retaining capable young people as vets. I take great delight in looking at clause 13 where I see a lot more flexibility is given to vets to the association and to the Veterinary Council. 
I must admit to being a bit surprised when this bill was going through the Primary Production Committee before I became a member of it that many vets came to me and complained about the arrogance and ignorance being exhibited by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry authorities and the Food Safety Authority. One point that I really would like to take up and take exception to was a comment around the fact that the amendments had to address the concerns of the Food Safety Authority in maintaining the biosecurity regime. It sought to establish the principle that a second-tier veterinary person with limited registration would undermine that regime. It used the example of the meat-processing industry going to a cheaper lower form of scope of practice so that the industry could save costs. I point out that Dr Andrew McKenzie from the Food Safety Authority is himself a vet and that although the wages of the meat inspectors are paid by the meat companies themselves the inspectors are employed by the Government. Again I take it upon myself to point that out. When that issue goes back to the select committee I think we should remove those erroneous connotations so that the people who are at the coalface can deliver on the needs of this country. 
The trends within the veterinary sector are very concerning. What appeals today is urbanisation. We also see the attraction of vets back to small practices and we find that more women are being attracted into the veterinary service today so it makes huge sense to attract and retain vets from the United Kingdom or similar nations. The relationship that exists between New Zealand and northern hemisphere countries is very appropriate. On that basis we are able to capitalise on New Zealand’s seasonality. We are able to attract those people here and by virtue of being able to extend to them the opportunity to operate here for 12 months with a right of renewal we will not only attract them but also help to retain them. That is very very appropriate. We realise the workload that falls on the shoulders of our vets in rural areas is alarming when we consider the seasonality of lambing calving and things like that.