Anderton Jim: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
Anderton Jim: Veterinarians Bill — Second Reading In Committee Third Reading 
[Volume:628;Page:966] 
Hon JIM ANDERTON (Minister of Agriculture) 
: 
 I move  
That the Veterinarians Bill be now read a third time 
. This bill was tabled in the House in December 2004. It had its first reading on 17 February 2005 and was referred to the Primary Production Committee on that day with the instruction that the committee present its final report before 14 June 2005. The select committee reported the bill back to the House on 14 June 2005. The bill has now had its second reading and has passed through the Committee stage. 
The veterinary profession makes a significant contribution to the New Zealand economy and society. In the livestock-based industries veterinarians are involved both on and off the farm. Veterinarians play a vital role in providing assurance to domestic and international consumers that our livestock-based food products are safe to consume. Many are also involved in biosecurity risk management. Urban veterinarians provide an important service of course to the owners of the many thousands of companion animals and pets in New Zealand society. Many people living in towns and cities know their veterinarian as well as if not better than their family doctor. 
The veterinarian profession through the Veterinary Council of New Zealand initially sought this bill. The profession wanted a more modern and flexible legislative framework both to reflect the changing nature of the profession and to enable more overseas trained veterinarians to practise in New Zealand while still maintaining the high standard of practice as required under the current legislation the Veterinarians Act 1994. The bill provides for that. I might say as an aside that it was clear to parliamentary counsel when they came to writing the bill itself that the former Act the 1994 Act was in fact outmoded and needed to be modernised and that is why so much change was made in the drafting process. I think that has served the veterinarians and the bill itself—and the clarity of it—well. 
The bill provides the council with a greater amount of flexibility in carrying out the purpose of the bill—that is to protect the public interest by aiming to ensure that veterinarians are competent to practise. The bill also provides for a greater degree of flexibility for the council in determining which veterinary training institutions and qualifications it will recognise for full registration. Those persons who do not hold a qualification recognised by the council but who have obtained a qualification of at least 4 years’ duration can seek registration after passing or completing a council-prescribed examination or an approved postgraduate training programme. Apart from that added flexibility however this will also encourage more overseas-trained veterinarians to seek registration in New Zealand which will hopefully ease the current shortage of veterinarians in rural practice. 
Another significant change in this legislative framework is the limited registration provision. This provision enables veterinarians who are highly trained in one area but who do not have an all-round veterinary science training to work in New Zealand in their area of expertise. This would help some New Zealand employers who are looking for a particular type of veterinary expertise to find suitable employees more readily. Some overseas veterinary schools are now already offering specialisation in certain areas of practice before a student completes the full veterinary degree. The new limited registration provision would enable such graduates to seek registration in New Zealand whereas under the old legislative regime they could not have done so. 
This bill is designed as far as is possible to be future-proof in terms of the changes in veterinary training that are expected in coming years some of which are already taking place. The bill also allows the council the flexibility to set its own fees enabling it more effectively to match its financial resources with its fluctuating needs. I could not understand I must say some of the discussion that took place during the Committee stage when National Party members criticised the Veterinary Council for charging fees to manage its own affairs. 
While the bill introduces more flexibility for the council it also ensures that a number of key safeguards for veterinarians and consumers are in place. The requirement to consult affected parties is one such safeguard. For instance when deciding whether to issue limited registration the council would have to develop scopes of practice for which limited registration would be permitted. Such scopes of practice are to be developed in consultation with relevant statutory agencies such as the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. 
To maintain confidence in our veterinary service the council needs powers to ensure that veterinarians maintain their high standard of competence. The bill enables the council to prescribe and implement minimum standards for continued registration. The bill also introduces a range of options for the council to use when dealing with competency and disciplinary matters—for example the council’s ability to impose conditions of practice on a veterinarian’s registration and/or practising certificate. I consider that this bill strikes an effective balance between giving more powers and flexibility to the Veterinary Council and including the necessary safeguards to protect the public and the national interest. 
I wish the Veterinary Council of New Zealand well in implementing its new legislative framework. I expect it will serve New Zealand’s veterinary professionals and their clients well both now and in the future. I believe they will all benefit from this bill and I commend its passage to the House.