Advocacy and Policy Update February/March 2024

11 Apr 2024

During the last 2 months the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) announced the appointment of Melissa King as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the AVA. We are excited to have Melissa and very grateful for the excellent work of Michael Ghattas as the Interim CEO.

Drs McMahon and Orr have been busy during February and March engaging with a range of external stakeholders around the AVA’s prebudget submission as well as a range of other issues.

Key Policy Advisory Council activities

On 23 February the AVA Board ratified a further 2 updated policies from 2023, and agreed to delete several policies from the compendium that have been superseded by others.  

The newly ratified policies are:

Policy Advisory Council (PAC) currently has 20 working groups focusing on updating older policies in preparation for PAC’s face-to-face meeting in May. Currently each Special Interest Group (SIG) and Division PAC representative is consulting with their groups so that they can report back to PAC in May on priority issues from their respective groups.

You can review the full list and status of AVA policies here.

Key advocacy activities (National)

Since the last update, the AVA has made 11 submissions on a variety of issues using our policies as a foundation including the following national submissions on:

  • TGA rescheduling of oxytetracycline.
  • Draft feral goat abatement plan
  • AVA advocacy on Australia’s Disaster Resilience. The AVA provided a submission to the Senate Select Committee on Australia’s Disaster Resilience. The AVA submission advocates for veterinary services to disaster impacted animals be included in the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, for increased public awareness for animal disaster preparedness, and incorporating animal impacts into disaster reporting data.

As with all AVA submissions, we have been assisted with the valuable expertise of a diverse range of members and we thank them for their assistance in all submissions, national and state or territory based.

 

Value of the profession

Live animal export

There was significant activity in the area of live animal export in February and March. The Advocacy team worked closely with the production animal SIGs to respond to the MV Bahijah live export incident including the development of a media release and providing support directly to members affected by the incident.

The AVA highlighted the need for veterinarians to be on board all live export ships, no matter how short the voyage, in a media release around the unfortunate death of over 100 cattle aboard the Brahman Express.

Higher education

Through a media release the AVA welcomed acknowledgment in the Australian Universities Accord final report that it is essential to increase the skilled rural workforce in the veterinary profession to ensure that all Australian communities enjoy the benefits of good animal health and welfare, and this starts at university.

Ensuring veterinary technical input to national processes

This is a ‘business as usual’ activity: Examples of work that was undertaken in February/March include:

  • AUSVETPLAN Destruction Manual rewrite – AVA is providing technical input to the update of the manual, which will be used in the event of an emergency animal disease where humane destruction of animals is required.
  • Consultation by DAFF on the renewal of the Australian Animal Welfare Strategy (AAWS)
  • The review of the Australian Standard for the Manufacture and Marketing of Pet Food AS5812 was completed and this is now regulation-ready, as we await the decision by Agriculture Ministers on how this sector will be regulated in future.
  • AVA provided further feedback to the Pharmacy Board of Australia to inform their review of their “Guidelines on compounding of medicines”, which has implications for both human and veterinary compounding.
Workforce sustainability and wellbeing

 

Key advocacy activities (Divisions)

ACT

  • AVA’s ACT pre-budget submission. The AVA has prepared a pre-budget submission for the 2024-25 ACT Government budget. The AVA submission makes six recommendations to the ACT Government to support ACT veterinarians.
  • The AVA provided feedback on the ACT Health Directorate draft Regulatory Accountability Framework to guide improvements to its regulatory services and public health outcomes over time. The aim of the framework is to incorporate best-practice regulatory principles into systems, processes and culture to better position the Directorate as a transparent and effective regulator.
  • The AVA met with ACT Acting Chief Pharmacist and ACT Veterinary Practitioners Board President to discuss the veterinary professions’ concerns with the Medicines, Poisons, and Therapeutic Goods Legislation and Regulation.

VIC

  • The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) provided a comprehensive submission to the Draft Bill and completed the Regulations survey to assist in reforming Victoria's animal care and protection laws.
  • The Domestic Animal Regulations 2015 sunset on 23 November 2025. AVA Victorian Division provided a submission to Animal Welfare Victoria to assist in the process of the new regulations to be improved and modernised.
  • Pig welfare in Victoria - The AVA policy team and the executive committee members of the Australian Pig Veterinarians SIG have contributed to the hearing for the inquiry into farmed pig welfare in Victoria. The Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee inquiry is focusing on regulatory frameworks, stunning methods, breeding and housing practices, the impact of the 2017 industry-led phase-out of sow stalls, and international industry best practice standards.
  • The Victorian Division of AVA continues to contribute to Victoria's Biosecurity Reference Group.
  • The AVA submission for the Victorian Cat Management Strategy is well progressed. The Victorian Division continues its involvement in the Victorian Animal Emergency Committee and Wildlife Emergency Support Network, to be informed about veterinary involvement in emergencies such as bushfires and floods.

TAS

  • The Tasmanian Division supported RSPCA Tasmania with AVA policy in opposition to Duck Hunting continuing in Tasmania.
  • AVA policies on companion animal behaviour have assisted RSPCA Tasmania in opposing Breed Specific Legislation and providing an informed approach to dog behaviour.

NSW

QLD

  • Dr Isabelle Resch, President of the Australian Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Group, represented AVA at the Queensland Parliament’s State Development and Regional Industries Committee hearing into the Agriculture and Fisheries and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023. The AVA’s position on breed specific legislation including “Deed not breed” was well articulated, as well as the importance of being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to addressing dog behaviour issues.

WA

  • The AVA held a highly productive meeting with the WA Veterinary Practice Board which included discussing the challenges and barriers experienced by veterinary teams in WA to provide veterinary services to animals that meet animal welfare needs and obligations while adhering to regulations and requirements of legislation.

NT

  • The AVA consulted with relevant AVA members to provide input for the recent consultation by the Northern Territory Department of Environment Parks and Water Security on the Management Program for the Saltwater Crocodile. The AVA’s over-arching recommendation is that consultation with appropriate subject matter experts, including that of the veterinary profession, is undertaken wherever animal welfare is being considered. 
  • The AVA held a highly productive meeting with the NT Veterinary Board to discuss the challenges and barriers experienced by veterinary teams in the NT, especially in remote areas, to provide veterinary services to animals that meet animal welfare needs and obligations while adhering to regulations and requirements of legislation.
  • NT Division Conference. At the AVA NT Division Annual Meeting, held in conjunction with the NT Division Conference in Darwin in February, Senior Advocacy Officer, Dr Robyn Whitaker provided a comprehensive update on National and Territory advocacy work undertaken by the AVA Veterinary Policy and Advocacy Team in 2023. Also at this session, the Chair of the NT Veterinary Board, Dr Vidya Bhardwaj, provided an informative and enlightening presentation on the functioning of the NT Veterinary Board.

 

Key advocacy activities (Special Interest Groups)

 Veterinary Business Group (VBG)

  • VBG contributed to the AVA submission regarding the Victorian Animal Care and Protection Bill and Regulations.
  • Representing the AVA, VBG actively participated in the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) Small Business Stewardship Group meeting in Victoria, addressing critical issues such as the increasing insolvency rates among businesses, mounting tax debts, and ensuring timely payment of employee superannuation.

Production Animal Special Interest Groups

  • Meetings continue around the country regarding EAD preparedness and the AVA is participating in many of these.
  • The production animal SIGs provided significant input into the development of the submission to the Draft Bill and completed the Regulations survey to assist in reforming Victoria's animal care and protection laws lead by the Victorian Division.
  • Involvement in the NFF Farming Systems Committee continues, with the recent focus being on the Biosecurity Levy.
  • Worked closely with the Advocacy team to respond to the MV Bahijah live export incident including the development of a media release and providing support directly to members affected by the incident.
  • Discussion continues regarding the EU AMR legislation particularly around the status of ionophores and resulting impact on Australian label requirements.
  • Representatives of ACV attended the Australian Beef Sustainability Forum Consultative Committee meeting held in Sydney and representatives of SCGV continue to be involved in the Australian Sheep Sustainability Forum Consultative Committee meetings. These meetings are important for raising the profile of production vets with decision makers and ensuring that vets are included in industry discussions.

Australian Pig Veterinarians (APV)

  • Pig welfare in Victoria - The AVA policy team and the executive committee members of APV have contributed to the hearing for the inquiry into farmed pig welfare in Victoria. The Legislative Council Economy and Infrastructure Committee inquiry is focusing on regulatory frameworks, stunning methods, breeding and housing practices, the impact of the 2017 industry-led phase-out of sow stalls, and international industry best practice standards.

Unusual Pet and Avian Veterinarians (UPAV)

  • Guidelines for dentistry in non-traditional companion animal. UPAV formed a small working group consisting of subject matter experts to produce a guidelines document for dentistry in non-traditional companion animal. The guidelines document will be submitted ahead of AVA Policy Council in May.

Australian Veterinary Behavioural Medicine (AVBM)

  • Dr Isabelle Resch, President of the Australian Veterinary Behavioural Medicine Group, represented the AVA at the Queensland Parliament’s State Development and Regional Industries Committee recent hearing into the Agriculture and Fisheries and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023. The AVA’s position on breed specific legislation including “Deed not breed” was well articulated, as well as the importance of being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to addressing dog behaviour issues.

Australian Small Animal Veterinarians (ASAV)

Prepubertal Desexing in Cats
  • ASAV has identified this as a key advocacy area of focus in Q1 of 2024. An article on Pre-Pubertal desexing in cats was included in the first edition of Companion magazine which was distributed in March. Q&A with Queensland vet Michael O’Donoghue on the subject of the pre-pubertal desexing of cats was included.
  • While desexing cats at the more traditional age of six months is still very common in Australia, the scientific evidence is clear that moving the date forward by two months is not only safe, but also offers a number of health and behavioural benefits for the patient.  And, of course, there's also the big-picture benefits of early desexing.
  • Further advocacy efforts will be developed after release of WSAVA’s Reproduction Cats and Dogs Guidelines document.
 Standards of Care

ASAV have prepared these standards to support veterinarians in offering the highest standards of care to their patients.

  • Regular health check standards for dogs and cats. The regular health check is one of the building blocks of companion animal practice and is also an essential component of responsible pet ownership.
  • Anaesthesia guidelines for dogs and cats. The standards set out in this document detail the ideal standards of anaesthetic care for dogs and cats within a general practice setting.

ASAV are now working to develop guidelines on topics such as gastrointestinal, dental and nutrition along with many more.  As we finalise each topic these will be uploaded to the ASAV member webpage for you to access.

You can access the Standards of Care pdfs and download a copy by clicking here.

 

THRIVE Update


We are delighted to continue to roll out the THRIVE Cultivating Safe Teams (CST) psychological health and safety awareness training sessions to veterinary teams across Australia in 2024. Each training session aims to provide participants with an understanding of psychological health and safety in the workplace, inspire individuals to consider how they can help build a safe veterinary team, and encourage entire teams to define and commit to cultivating a workplace that is safe, equitable and well. 

Despite storms in far north Queensland and taxi drivers that defied speed limits in Esperance, facilitator Carly Webster has travelled some 9,500 km’s across Western Australia and Queensland in the last 8 weeks to present this invaluable training! 

There is still work ahead of us, with a further 22 veterinary workplaces to receive the training in 2024. Stakeholder events to share our stories have also been held/scheduled, including a CST Stakeholder discussion on Tuesday 9 April and the THRIVE Veterinary Wellness Symposium on Monday 27 May.   

We look forward to continuing to work on behalf of all veterinary professionals to make this training program a success well into the future. 

 

We welcome any feedback you have around our updates - please email publicvetaffairs@ava.com.au. We encourage you to read more about AVA Veterinary Policy and Advocacy here. As always, we encourage you to get involved to provide input into activities the AVA is commenting on or undertaking.

Best Wishes,

Cristy Secombe, Graham Pratt, Melanie Latter, Monika Cole and Jeffrey Wilkinson, on behalf of the Veterinary Policy and Advocacy team and the Special Interest Groups team.