Goodhew Jo: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Goodhew Jo: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:944] 
JO GOODHEW (National—Aoraki) 
: 
 I rise to speak to Part 4 “Veterinary Council of New Zealand” and I do so because it is a very important part—remarkable indeed. But unlike Mr Cullen I actually want to talk about Part 4. I want first of all to thank the Minister for his enlightening comments but in fact I had already noted that there are unlike many parts of this bill few if any changes to Part 4. Why is that? It is because the former Minister of Agriculture did not manage to meddle with this part before presenting the original draft. In fact the details around the Veterinary Council around the complaints assessment committees and around the judicial committees obviously met with the approval of the sector—the very same sector that was not consulted with prior to putting together the rest of the bill. So Part 4 is remarkable for that. 
Part 4 is also very important because it concerns the registration body of the peers and the peers are the vets. The council members are there to examine to register to advise the Minister on any matter including education to talk to other countries about reciprocal arrangements to hear complaints and also to prescribe standards. I want to refer to talking to other countries about reciprocal arrangements and why that is so important. Again we come back to the fact that we are short of vets and particularly of rural vets. And I reflect on what my colleague has said about the blue tide that has swept through New Zealand—the blue tide that recognises that provincial New Zealand is important. The primary production sector is important and that area of New Zealand has been callously disregarded by the Labour Government. In fact on 17 September it was Labour’s peril. We see in the Chamber tonight many members who now hold former Labour seats myself included. 
When we look at the complaints assessment committees we see they have as my colleague Katherine Rich has suggested very very powerful powers. Again we are still to be illuminated about things. I put it to members again that those things are still probably the frozen bodies of the pets in the freezer. The judicial committees are a very important part of the process. We see that because Part 4 does not have many changes if any; it is just a mere five pages compared with the 31 pages that we saw in Part 3. 
We can talk about clause 69 “Composition of Council”—three elected veterinarians and also another appointed one and two lay persons. I may have to take a slightly divergent view from that of my colleague Katherine Rich regarding the make-up of that committee. I believe it is in the best interest of veterinarians that they represent the views of pet owners by making sure that there are no bad apples amongst them. I do believe veterinarians will judge their peers very harshly on occasions when they are before them so therefore there will be a balance of views that looks to the interests of pets and vets. We have heard here tonight about the emotive issues around those who worry terribly about their pets and the balance on that council is very important. 
I have just a final comment to make regarding the possible laypersons who could be appointed and I say we have had some suggestions. Earlier this week I saw in the  
Timaru Herald  
that the Hon Jim Sutton is looking for a new job so I wonder whether he could be a candidate. But chillingly I also suggest— 
Hon David Carter 
: A racing car driver! 
JO GOODHEW 
: Oh true yes he could also do that. Chillingly I also suggest that there will be some National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) markers who are disenchanted and disillusioned with their jobs. They too will be looking for a new job. So it may be that NCEA markers would be a very good idea as lay members of the council. I believe that my colleagues will come up with many more suggestions about those lay people. We have had some great suggestions here tonight but I still think that perhaps the Hon Jim Sutton should be right up there because he has suggested that he may be looking for a new occupation.