Goodhew Jo: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Goodhew Jo: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:898] 
JO GOODHEW (National—Aoraki) 
: 
 I rise to speak to Part 2 of the Veterinarians Bill regarding registration and practising certificates. I too have been registered and have held a practising certificate. There are a number of points that I will make. 
It is only right and proper that the registration process be thorough. Interestingly in this legislation it is so thorough that I return to my former theme—that is that Part 2 is absolutely full of areas that are struck out and through the hard work of the Primary Production Committee new parts have come into this bill. Again I remind those present that this is because the original preparation work did not happen. When the former Minister of Agriculture brought this bill to the House consultation with the appropriate sector had not happened yet that sector had sought this bill and members of that sector had said that this bill was necessary and that they should go forward into the future with the provisions that they would like. But the work had not gone in and therefore it was left to the select committee. I hope one day that I will be a member of a select committee that will do such studious work and will come forward with something that is obviously well supported by the members of this House. I have not had the benefit of working with such a committee but as I say I am looking forward to it. I also note the former comments that there was very good consultation and collaboration with the sector. That has resulted in the provisions that are now in this bill and in particular registration and practising certificates. 
Another really good point that has been made by one of my colleagues is that this legislation is for registration of not only overseas veterinarians but also of New Zealand veterinarians. I wish that more of the New Zealand veterinarians were registered and that we could keep them here in this country. I return to the theme that has been brought up before—the theme of why these veterinarians are leaving New Zealand. There is no doubt in my mind that it is because of high taxation and high compliance costs. Earlier today we heard the amendments on the hazardous substances and new organisms legislation debated and that is the bane of some veterinarians’ lives as well. Then there are the PC problems and the fact that the rest of their families are paying tax too. They have high student loans and indebtedness and they are going overseas because they know they can put more money in their pockets by being anywhere but New Zealand. We have heard of the 600 people per week who head off to Australia—our highly skilled and highly trained New Zealanders. So I say that it is really sad that veterinarians have waited for this bill for the last 6 months because they are certainly looking forward to it. 
The registration and practising certificate part of this bill is particularly important because it does protect the public of New Zealand and it protects the animals of New Zealand. That is very important because we have already heard about the cockatoo that had not been protected—the cockatoo with the very good name that had been mistaken for a girl a daughter a woman or something like that. 
Kate Wilkinson 
: A lover! 
JO GOODHEW 
: No I am not sure it was the lover. 
Eric Roy 
: Bestiality! 
JO GOODHEW 
: No we will not get into anything like that thank you. The registration and practising certificate part of the bill does in fact protect both the animals of New Zealand and also the public. As we know people get very emotive when they believe that the person who is providing care for their animal may not be appropriately registered. So it is only appropriate that all of the work that has gone on during this select committee process is in the legislation—it is just such a shame that the original bill had not been carefully prepared by the Hon Jim Sutton the previous Minister of Agriculture. 
Phil Heatley 
: Is he still a vet? 
JO GOODHEW 
: I do not believe that the Hon Jim Sutton was a vet but as a former farmer then he most certainly should have had in his heart the animals that he had formerly cared for and in fact his rural practice. It is interesting that in the House today we heard from Mr Woolerton and from Tariana Turia who were both members of that committee and we do find that—