Eckhoff Gerrard: Veterinarians Bill — First Reading 
Eckhoff Gerrard: Veterinarians Bill — First Reading 
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GERRARD ECKHOFF (ACT) 
: 
 I am delighted to speak on the first reading of the Veterinarians Bill. I made what I think was a wrong assumption that this bill would be totally non-political. This bill was after all meant to be about engaging with the veterinary community in fine-tuning what is needed to ensure that the very very high competency standards of veterinarians remain and indeed are enhanced. Veterinarians also require certain flexibilities. I was very pleased to hear from veterinarians themselves—because I am one of those members who actually speak to them—that they were broadly speaking happy with the thrust of the bill. They said that they supported what the bill was trying to do. 
But the veterinarians who have studied the bill have said to me that it is very untidy—that it is badly worded and needs significant changes. Mr David Carter the chair of the Primary Production Committee alluded to that earlier. I reiterate to the Minister and to officials that that message comes from a group of professional people who understand exactly what is needed. This bill is not about revenue gathering or self-benefit. The whole bill is about ensuring that veterinarians get an Act to govern that hugely important area of endeavour that will ensure the future of the agrarian sector—because it goes hand in hand with that of veterinarians—is very positive. I have been told on a number of occasions that this bill is right in intent but very very wrong in content. So yet again the Primary Production Committee will have to tidy up the mess. 
Let me give just one example of why this bill will need a tidy-up. If a veterinarian—just as in the case of a doctor—is deemed to be highly incompetent or to have a mental or physical incapacity he or she should be suspended forthwith. Under the proposal in this PC nonsense a meeting and a hearing will be set up. How long will that take? Meanwhile very expensive thoroughbred horses stud bulls or whatever animals they may be could well be under threat. The industry needs the flexibility to move immediately in the unfortunate event of somebody not meeting the mental or physical standards required to become a vet or to retain his or her practising certificate. That person’s licence to practise needs to be withdrawn forthwith. The real question that arises is why that provision was not discussed with the veterinary profession. 
Again I want to reiterate what Mr David Carter said. He was absolutely correct in saying that the Veterinary Association which represents the veterinarians themselves has not been associated with the changes that show up in this bill. The question that really needs to be asked is why that is the case. Why did Jim Sutton not instruct his officials to go to the Veterinary Association and ask what needed to be put in this bill in order to ensure that the association—a professional body of people—was happy with it? If I had been the Minister I would have asked the profession to write the bill and then bring it back to the Government to be tidied up in order to meet the Government’s standards and requirements before being progressed. Instead a huge amount of time will be spent in the select committee on tidying up the bill. We really have to ask why we did not get it right the first time. We need to go back to the question of why the Minister Jim Sutton did not ensure that that consultation took place in the first instance. I think it is dead right to say he has fallen out so badly with those who are directly or peripherally associated with agriculture that he no longer cares about their opinion. 
It is also quite wrong of Jill Pettis—or indeed my colleague Doug Woolerton—to suggest that Federated Farmers are somehow backing certain parties in this House. I have been speaking with farmers and with Federated Farmers. I know they have political affiliations right across the spectrum. But there is one party that they are totally tossing out. Some of them flirted briefly with Jim Sutton and the Labour Party but the members of Federated Farmers have seen so many bad decisions affect the farming community that they are demanding that their executive tell the Government it is wrong and farmers do not want any part of it. [ 
Interruption 
] There may even be one or two farmers left who will vote for New Zealand First! I tell Mr Woolerton there is an ugly rumour circulating to that effect. That may be the case. 
R Doug Woolerton 
: They would advance their cause if they did. 
GERRARD ECKHOFF 
: I say good on them if that is what they choose to do. Federated Farmers have assiduously tried to keep apolitical but in the appalling case of the flatulence tax Jim Sutton—who did not discuss this bill with farmers either—studiously ignored the view of Federated Farmers. Regrettably he is still in charge of the issue of access and is totally ignoring the people who are directly affected. So why should we in this House be surprised that Jim Sutton has also ignored the Veterinary Association’s advice on the matter before us? It is as natural as night following day that that would be the case. 
I also reiterate the words of my colleagues Mr Woolerton and Mr Carter who said that we in the Primary Production Committee all recognise the huge value and importance of the teaching facilities at Massey University in Palmerston North and the high quality and high standard of our veterinarians right throughout the country. They do a fantastic job. They can be called out in the middle of the night and on weekends and they come just like doctors. I had a yearling bull that my son thought was a steer until we got him in. There was no way that I would get into the race with the bull and use the unkindest cut of all on him. But the young woman veterinarian without batting an eyelid went in and did the deed. I have to admit that it brought a tear to my eye. When one is dealing with animals one has to marvel at the huge skill and knowledge of veterinarians. We really do need to pay tribute to the veterinary profession for what it does for the agricultural industry which contributes so fantastically to our economy. 
Just today we witnessed Fonterra announcing that another $240 million is to go into New Zealand’s economy from the dairy industry. That money will go into the wider community because everybody knows that there is no one sillier than a farmer with a few dollars in his or her pocket. That money is spent and the whole community benefits from it. That is well recognised. We get a few bucks and we want to go out and spend it. That is a marvellous way to distribute that sort of cash rather than the Government’s way which is to tax and take constantly. 
I reiterate that I think it is a shame that veterinarians across the board appear to be rather upset with the Government for not consulting them properly on this bill. It would have saved a heck of a lot of time effort and money had the Government done so. But the Opposition will continue to talk with their professional bodies even if the Government will not. I look forward to this bill going to the select committee where yet again the Government’s mess will be tidied up.