The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has lodged a submission in response to the Western Australian Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) draft Veterinary Practice Amendment Regulations (VPAR), raising serious concerns about regulatory imbalances that could impact animal welfare and veterinary service accessibility.
While the AVA acknowledges the intent of the proposed regulations to improve oversight of veterinary practice, it warns that the draft framework increases inequitable regulatory burdens on veterinarians while allowing non-veterinarians to perform veterinary procedures without equivalent oversight. "This discrepancy raises significant risks regarding animal welfare, professional accountability, and consumer protection," said AVA WA Division President Dr Katie Kreutz.
"Veterinarians undergo extensive education and training to ensure high standards of animal care, yet these draft regulations introduce a system where non-veterinarians can perform some veterinary procedures without sufficient safeguards," said Dr Kreutz. "This imbalance not only undermines professional standards but also creates significant risks for pain management, public safety and animal welfare, particularly in large animal practice."
The AVA's submission highlights key concerns, including:
- The lack of clear legal and professional liability for veterinarians supervising non-veterinarians
- The economic impact of increased regulatory burdens on veterinary service accessibility, particularly in rural and remote areas
- The shift to a compliance-heavy model that reduces professional discretion without clear benefits for animal welfare.
Dr Sally Colgan, Australian Veterinary Association President, said "A regulatory framework should support high standards of care, workforce sustainability, and accessible services, rather than imposing unnecessary restrictions. The AVA urges DPIRD to refine these regulations to ensure all providers of animal health services are subject to appropriate oversight."
The AVA calls on the Western Australian Government to engage with veterinary professionals and industry experts to develop a fair, evidence-based regulatory model that ensures appropriate oversight for all providers of animal health services. The AVA is committed to working collaboratively with DPIRD to develop a balanced, outcome-based regulatory framework that upholds animal welfare, supports veterinary professionals, and maintains confidence in the profession.
