Veterinary Practice Act 1997 (Vic)

Version No. 045

Veterinary Practice Act 1997

No. 58 of 1997

Version incorporating amendments as at

22 October 2025

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Section  Page

Part 1—Preliminary

1Purposes

2Commencement

3Definitions

3ADeemed general registration

3BDeemed specialist endorsement

3CGovernor in Council may approve an approved person

Part 2—Registration

Division 1—Procedure for obtaining registration

4Application for registration

5Qualifications for general registration

6General registration

7Specific registration

7AACancellation of specific registration if practitioner unable to comply with condition

7ANon-practising registration

8Endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner

9Entitlement of applicant to make submissions

10Notification of outcome of application

11Duration and renewal of registration

12Application for renewal of and refusal to renew registration

13Restoration of name to the register

14Effect of suspension of registration

14ARegistration may be surrendered

15Registration obtained by fraud

Division 2—The Register

16The Register

16ABoard may remove particulars of persons no longer registered or holding a specialist endorsement

17Certificates

18Use of certificate as evidence

19Requirement to notify the Board of change of address

Part 3—Investigations into registered veterinary practitioners

Division 1—Preliminary investigations into professional conduct

20Complaints about the conduct of registered veterinary practitioners

21When complaints about professional conduct are to be investigated by the Board

22Outcome of preliminary investigation

23Power of Board to institute a hearing into professional conduct

24Suspension of, or imposition of conditions on, registration on decision to conduct investigation or hearing into conduct of veterinary practitioner

Division 2—Preliminary investigation into the health of registered veterinary practitioners

25Commencement of preliminary investigation

26Notification to veterinary practitioner

26ASuspension of, or imposition of conditions on, registration if preliminary investigation to be conducted on health etc. of practitioner

27Examination as to health of practitioner

28Report of examination

29Outcome of preliminary investigation

30Referral to formal hearing

31Request for conditions, limitations or restrictions

33Immediate suspension of registration

Division 3—Formal and informal hearings

Subdivision 1—Informal hearings

34Establishment and notification of an informal hearing

35Constitution of a panel for an informal hearing

36Notice of an informal hearing

37Conduct of an informal hearing

38Findings and determinations of an informal hearing

39Change of informal hearing to formal hearing during course of hearing

40Request for formal hearing upon completion of informal hearing

Subdivision 2—Formal hearings

41Establishment and notification of formal hearing

42Constitution of a hearing panel for a formal hearing

43Notice of a formal hearing

43APreliminary conferences

43BRequirements as to attendance at preliminary conference

44Conduct of a formal hearing

45Findings and determinations of a formal hearing into conduct

46Findings and determinations of a formal hearing into ability to practise

Division 4—General provisions relating to investigations

47Procedure at formal and informal hearings

47AConferences, meetings or hearings may be held by remote means.

48Powers of panel conducting a formal hearing

49Determinations

50Revocation of suspension or removal of condition, limitation or restriction

50AAgreements to amend, vary or revoke conditions or revoke suspensions

51Reasons for determinations of panel or Board

52Notifications

53Offences to disclose information identifying complainant or witness

54Terms and conditions of appointment of panel members

Part 4—Review by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

55Review by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal

56Notification

Part 5—Offences

57Claims by persons as to registration

58Fraud, forgery etc

58AOffence to direct or incite unprofessional conduct

59Advertising

60Exemptions

Part 6—Administration

61Establishment of Board

62Powers, functions and consultation requirements

63Membership of the Board

64Terms of office

65Resignation and removal

66President and Deputy President

67Acting member

68Payment of members

69Procedure of Board

70Member's interests

71Resolutions without meetings

72Approved methods of communication for Board

73Effect of vacancy or defect

74Immunity

75Staff

76Delegation

77Duty of confidentiality

Part 7—Reporting and financial provisions

78Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund

79Investment powers

Part 8—Enforcement and supplementary powers

80Proceedings for offences

80AAppointment of persons

81Identification

82Powers of entry with warrant

83Announcement before entry

84Copy of warrant to be given to occupier

85Copies or receipts to be given

86Powers of Board in relation to fees

86AInfringement notices

Part 9—General

87Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction

88Regulations

Part 10—Savings, transitional and amendments

Division 1—Savings and transitional

89Definitions

90Repeal

91Board succeeds old Board

92Proceedings before the old Board

93Application of this Act to conduct occurring before commencement of this Act

94Existing registrations

95Preparation of annual report

Part 11—Savings and transitional provisions arising from amending Acts

96Transitional provision—Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2014

97Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2016—Transitional provision

98Transitional provisions—Agriculture Legislation Amendment Act 2022

═══════════════

Endnotes

1      General information

2      Table of Amendments

3      Explanatory details

Version No. 045

Veterinary Practice Act 1997

No. 58 of 1997

Version incorporating amendments as at

22 October 2025

The Parliament of Victoria enacts as follows:

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

1Purposes

The main purposes of this Act are—

(a)to protect the public by providing for the registration of veterinary practitioners and investigations into the professional conduct and fitness to practise of registered veterinary practitioners; and

(b)to establish the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria and the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund; and

(c)to repeal the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958; and

(d)to make consequential amendments to other Acts; and

(e)to provide for other related matters.

2Commencement

(1)This Part comes into operation on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(2)Subject to subsection (3), the remaining provisions of this Act come into operation on a day or days to be proclaimed.

(3)If a provision referred to in subsection (2) does not come into operation before 1 December 1998, it comes into operation on that day.

3Definitions

In this Act—

*                *                *                *                *

*                *                *                *                *

approved person means a person approved under section 3C;

*                *                *                *                *

Board means the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria established under Part 6;

*                *                *                *                *

Fund means the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund established under Part 7;

interstate right to practise means a right to carry on or engage in veterinary practice in another State or a Territory, being the equivalent of general registration under section 6;

interstate veterinary registration authority means a person or body conferred with the function or power under a law of another State or a Territory to confer or grant a right to carry on or engage in veterinary practice in that State or Territory, being the equivalent of registration as a veterinary practitioner under this Act;

lawyer means an Australian lawyer;

principal place of residence includes sole place of residence;

register means the register of veterinary practitioners kept under Part 2;

registered medical practitioner means a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the medical profession (other than as a student);

registered veterinary practitioner means—

(a)a person registered under Part 2 (whether or not the registration of that person is general or specific); or

(ab)a person whose name has been restored to the register under section 13; or

(b)a person deemed to be registered by operation of section 3A;

Secretary means the person who is, for the time being, the Department Head (within the meaning of the Public Administration Act 2004) of the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action;

severe substance dependence has the same meaning as in section 5 of the Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Act 2010;

unprofessional conduct means all or any of the following—

(a)professional conduct which is of a lesser standard than that which the public might reasonably expect of a registered veterinary practitioner;

(b)professional conduct which is of a lesser standard than that which might reasonably be expected of a veterinary practitioner by his or her peers;

(c)professional misconduct;

(d)infamous conduct in a professional respect;

(e)providing veterinary services of a kind that are excessive, unnecessary or not reasonably required for an animal's well-being;

(f)a finding of guilt of—

(i)an indictable offence in Victoria, or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction;

(ii)an offence which, in the opinion of the Board, makes the veterinary practitioner unfit to be a registered veterinary practitioner;

(iii)an offence under this Act or the regulations;

(iv)an offence as a veterinary practitioner under any other Act or regulations;

(g)influencing or attempting to influence the conduct of a veterinary practice in such a way that an animal's well-being may be compromised;

(h)the contravention of or failure to comply with a condition, limitation or restriction on the registration of a veterinary practitioner imposed by or under this Act unless, in the case of a veterinary practitioner whose registration is subject to the condition of being supervised, the supervisor is changed or unable to continue supervising the veterinary practitioner;

Note

See section 7AA for the cancellation of the specific registration of a veterinary practitioner if there is a condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration and this condition cannot be complied with.

veterinary practice means the practise of veterinary surgery and veterinary medicine.

3ADeemed general registration

(1)For the purposes of this Act, a person who holds an interstate right to practise is deemed to be registered under this Act as a veterinary practitioner with general registration.

(2)The general registration referred to in subsection (1) is subject to conditions, limitations or restrictions that are the same as those that apply to the person's interstate right to practise.

3BDeemed specialist endorsement

For the purposes of this Act, a veterinary practitioner who holds an interstate right to practise that provides (by endorsement or otherwise) that the practitioner is qualified to practise as a veterinary specialist in a branch of veterinary surgery or medicine is deemed—

(a)to be a registered veterinary practitioner under this Act with general registration; and

(b)to have been granted an endorsement under section 8 on that general registration to the effect that the practitioner is qualified to practise as a veterinary specialist in that branch of veterinary surgery or medicine.

3CGovernor in Council may approve an approved person

(1)The Governor in Council may by instrument, on the recommendation of the Minister, approve a person who is not a member of the Board as an approved person for the purposes of sections 21(3)(c), 35(2) and 42(2).

(2)The term of approval for an approved person must be specified in the instrument of approval and must not exceed 3 years.

PART 2—REGISTRATION

Division 1—Procedure for obtaining registration

4Application for registration

(1)Subject to subsection (1A), only the following persons may apply for registration as a veterinary practitioner under this Part—

(a)in the case of an application for general registration under section 6—

(i)a natural person whose principal place of residence is in Victoria;

(ii)a natural person whose principal place of residence will be in Victoria while practising as a veterinary practitioner;

(b)in the case of an application for specific registration under section 7 or non-practising registration under section 7A, a natural person.

(1A)A veterinary practitioner—

(a)who is a registered veterinary practitioner by the operation of section 3A; and

(b)whose principal place of residence will be in Victoria after the expiry of the practitioner's current annual registration period for the practitioner's interstate right to practise; and

(c)who intends to carry on veterinary practice after expiry of that registration period—

must apply for registration in Victoria before the expiry of that registration period.

(1B)A veterinary practitioner who—

(a)is a registered veterinary practitioner by the operation of section 3A; and

(b)is not required to apply for registration under Part 2—

is not required to pay a fee for registration in Victoria.

(2)An application must—

(a)be in writing; and

(b)contain the prescribed information; and

(c)be accompanied by evidence of the qualifications which the applicant claims entitle him or her to the type of registration applied for; and

(d)be accompanied by the fee determined by the Board.

(3)The Board—

(a)may require the applicant to provide further information or material in respect of the application; and

(b)may require that the information in the application be verified by a statutory declaration; and

(c)may require proof of identity of the person making the application.

5Qualifications for general registration

(1)A person is qualified for general registration as a veterinary practitioner if that person—

(a)has been awarded a degree in veterinary science or medicine accredited by the Board that is from a tertiary institution recognised by the Board; or

(b)in the opinion of the Board, has a qualification that is substantially equivalent or is based on similar competencies to a degree in veterinary science or medicine accredited by the Board; or

(c)has passed a qualifying examination conducted by or on behalf of the Board; or

(d)has a qualification that is recognised in another State or Territory of the Commonwealth for the purposes of undertaking work of a similar nature to that which a person holding a qualification to which paragraph (a), (b) or (c) applies is qualified to undertake.

(2)Despite subsection (1), if the Board is satisfied that an applicant would not be able to provide the standard of veterinary services ordinarily required in Victoria because the applicant has not practised as a veterinary practitioner within the 3 years preceding the application it may refuse to grant general registration unless the applicant undertakes further training approved by the Board.

6General registration

(1)The Board must grant general registration as a veterinary practitioner to an applicant if—

(a)the applicant is qualified for registration under section 5; and

(ab)the Board is satisfied that the applicant's principal place of residence is in Victoria or will be in Victoria while the applicant practises as a veterinary practitioner; and

(b)there are no grounds under subsection (2) under which the Board may refuse to grant registration to the applicant; and

(c)the circumstances are such that section 7 does not apply; and

(d)the applicant has paid the fee determined by the Board under section 4(2)(d).

(1A)For the purposes of subsection (1)(ab), the Board must have regard to—

(a)whether the applicant's residence in Victoria is the applicant's sole residence; and

(b)every place of residence of the applicant in Australia.

(1B)Without limiting this Part, the Board must refuse to grant registration as a veterinary practitioner to an applicant if it is satisfied that—

(a)the applicant has applied for and been refused an interstate right to practise; and

(b)the basis on which the applicant was refused that right has not changed as at the time of the applicant's application under this Act.

(1C)Without limiting this Part, the Board must also refuse to grant general registration to an applicant who, under a law of another State or a Territory, has been disqualified from applying, or is not entitled to apply, for a right to carry on or engage in veterinary practice in that State or Territory, being the equivalent of registration as a veterinary practitioner under this Act.

(2)The Board may refuse to grant registration to an applicant on any one or more of the following grounds—

(a)that the character of the applicant is such that it would not be in the public interest to allow the applicant to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner;

(b)that the applicant is unfit to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner because he or she has a severe substance dependence;

(c)that the applicant has been found guilty of an indictable offence in Victoria or an equivalent offence in another jurisdiction within a period of 10 years preceding the application;

(d)that the applicant has been found guilty of an offence where the ability of the applicant to practise is likely to be affected because of the finding of guilt or where it is not in the public interest to allow the applicant to practise because of the finding of guilt;

(e)that the applicant has previously been registered under this Act or the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 and during the course of that registration has had proceedings under Part 3 or similar proceedings under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 brought against him or her and those proceedings have never been finalised;

(f)that, in the opinion of the Board, the applicant is unfit to be registered because he or she has a physical or mental impairment which significantly impairs his or her ability to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner;

(fa)that the applicant's competency in speaking and communicating in English is not sufficient for that person to practise as a registered veterinary practitioner;

(fb)that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(a)(i), that the applicant has not undergone the counselling as specified in the determination of the panel;

(fc)that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(a)(ii), that the applicant has not undertaken further education in accordance with the determination of the panel;

(fca)that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(a)(iii), the applicant has not complied with the undertaking about the person's conduct as a veterinary practitioner;

(fd)that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(d), that the period for which the applicant is not entitled to re-apply for registration has not expired;

(g)that the applicant has previously held a right to practise as a veterinary practitioner outside Victoria, being the equivalent of registration as a veterinary practitioner under this Act, and that right has been cancelled or suspended and not restored because of conduct which, if committed within Victoria, would entitle the Board to suspend or cancel registration.

(3)A grant of registration under this section is subject to any conditions, limitations or restrictions that the Board thinks fit.

(4)The Board may, upon application by the registered veterinary practitioner, amend, vary or revoke any condition, limitation or restriction imposed under subsection (3).

7Specific registration

(1)The Board may grant or refuse to grant specific registration as a veterinary practitioner to an applicant if the applicant holds qualifications in veterinary practice which do not qualify that applicant for general registration—

(a)to enable that applicant to undertake supervised study or training or a course approved by the Board at a tertiary institution; or

(b)to enable that applicant to fill a veterinary teaching or research position at a tertiary institution approved by the Board; or

(ba)to enable an applicant to occupy a position in a public sector body or in a department or agency of the Commonwealth Government if the position requires the applicant to be a veterinary practitioner; or

(c)to enable that applicant to undergo training, under the direct supervision of a registered veterinary practitioner, to acquire the competencies required to be registered under section 6; or

(d)if the Board is of the opinion that, in order to meet an identified need for a veterinary practitioner, it is necessary for a person having qualifications in the nature of the applicant's to provide veterinary services; or

(e)to enable an applicant from another country to practise in Victoria if that applicant has exchanged practice with a registered veterinary practitioner for a limited period with the prior permission of the Board.

(2)A grant of specific registration under this section is subject to any conditions, limitations or restrictions imposed by the Board including the period of registration which must be no less than 12 months and no more than 36 months.

(3)The Board may of its own motion, or upon application by the veterinary practitioner granted specific registration, amend, vary or revoke any condition, limitation or restriction imposed under subsection (2).

7AACancellation of specific registration if practitioner unable to comply with condition

(1)If a registered veterinary practitioner granted specific registration notifies the Board, or the Board becomes aware, that the practitioner cannot comply with a condition imposed on the registration, the Board must give a written notice to the practitioner in accordance with subsection (2).

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1) the notice must—

(a)require that the registered veterinary practitioner show sufficient cause as to why the specific registration should not be cancelled because of non-compliance with the condition; and

(b)inform the registered veterinary practitioner that the practitioner must show sufficient cause within the period of 10 business days after being given the notice.

(3)If a registered veterinary practitioner who has been given a notice in accordance with this section fails to show sufficient cause to the Board as to why the specific registration should not be cancelled within the period stated in the notice, the Board may cancel the specific registration.

(4)If the Board cancels a specific registration under subsection (3) the Board must give a written notice to the veterinary practitioner who had held that registration stating—

(a)that the specific registration has been cancelled by the Board; and

(b)that the specific registration will be removed from the Register; and

(c)the date on which the cancellation of the specific registration comes into effect, which must be no earlier than the date on which the practitioner receives the notice; and

(d)that the veterinary practitioner may apply under Part 4 to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal for a review of the decision to cancel the specific registration.

(5)In this section—

condition imposed on a specific registration includes a limitation or restriction imposed on that specific registration.

7ANon-practising registration

(1)The Board may grant or refuse to grant registration as a non-practising veterinary practitioner to an applicant if the applicant—

(a)is qualified for general registration; and

(b)the applicant has satisfied the Board that he or she does not intend to practice as a veterinary practitioner for the period of the registration.

(2)A grant of non-practising registration under this section is subject to any conditions, limitations or restrictions imposed by the Board on the registration.

(3)The Board may, of its own motion, or on the application by a veterinary practitioner granted registration as a non-practising veterinary practitioner, amend, vary or revoke any condition, limitation or restriction imposed under subsection (2).

8Endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner

(1)If the Board is satisfied that a veterinary practitioner has—

(a)been granted general registration under section 6; and

(b)has satisfactorily completed a post-graduate qualification in a branch of veterinary surgery or medicine recognised by the Board; and

(c)has practised in, or is currently practising in, that branch of veterinary surgery or medicine—

the Board may grant or refuse to grant an endorsement of the general registration of the veterinary practitioner to the effect that the veterinary practitioner is qualified to practise as a veterinary specialist in the branch of veterinary surgery or medicine that is specified by the Board in the endorsement.

(2)An applicant for general registration or a registered veterinary practitioner may apply to the Board for an endorsement as a specialist practitioner under this section.

(3)An application must be—

(a)in writing in a form approved by the Board and accompanied by evidence of the qualifications and experience that the applicant claims qualify him or her for the endorsement as a specialist practitioner; and

(b)accompanied by the fee determined by the Board.

(3A)The Board may refuse to grant an endorsement of the general registration of the veterinary practitioner on the ground that, in the case of an applicant in respect of whom a determination of a panel has been made under section 45(2A)(e), the period for which the applicant is not entitled to re‑apply for the endorsement has not expired.

(4)The Board—

(a)may require the applicant to provide further information or material in respect of the application; and

(b)may require that information in the application be verified by a statutory declaration.

(5)The Board may have regard to the advice of any person or persons about the applicant's training, qualifications, experience or expertise in the branch of veterinary practice in which the applicant is seeking specialist registration.

(6)The Board must ensure that, if any branch of veterinary surgery or medicine is recognised by the Board for the purposes of endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner under this section, the endorsement is notified in a relevant publication circulating among veterinary practitioners generally.

9Entitlement of applicant to make submissions

If the Board is proposing to refuse an application for registration or endorsement of registration or to impose conditions, limitations or restrictions on the registration of an applicant, the Board must not do so until—

(a)it has given the applicant notice of this proposal; and

(b)it has given the applicant an opportunity to make submissions to the Board about the proposal.

10Notification of outcome of application

(1)Upon determining an application for registration or endorsement of registration under this Part, the Board must notify the applicant as to whether or not registration or endorsement of registration has been granted to the applicant.

(2)A notice under subsection (1) must include the following information—

(a)if the registration has been granted—

(i)the type of registration granted; and

(ii)whether or not any conditions, limitations or restrictions have been imposed on the registration and, if so, the reasons for imposing the conditions, limitations or restrictions; or

(b)if the endorsement of registration has been granted, the branch of veterinary surgery or medicine that the veterinary practitioner is authorised to practise in as a veterinary specialist; or

(c)if the registration or endorsement of registration has not been granted—

(i)the reasons why it has not been granted; and

(ii)a statement that the applicant has a right to obtain a review of the decision not to grant registration or endorsement of registration.

11Duration and renewal of registration

(1)The registration of a veterinary practitioner which is not specific or renewal of such registration continues in force until the end of the financial year in which the registration was granted or renewed, unless the registration is earlier cancelled or surrendered under this Act.

Note

A financial year is the period of twelve months ending at midnight on 30 June: see s. 44(6)(d) of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984.

(2)The endorsement of the registration of a veterinary practitioner as a specialist practitioner continues in force, unless the endorsement is earlier cancelled or surrendered under this Act for the period that the registration is in force.

(3)This section does not apply to the registration of a veterinary practitioner who is a registered veterinary practitioner by operation of section 3A.

12Application for renewal of and refusal to renew registration

(1)An application for renewal of registration granted under this Part which is not specific—

(a)must be made to the Board before the existing registration expires; and

(b)must be accompanied by the fee determined by the Board.

(2)If a person does not apply for renewal of registration before the end of the existing registration period, the Board may renew that person's registration if application is made within one month after the end of the registration period and the applicant pays an additional renewal fee determined by the Board which must not be more than 50% of the original fee.

(3)If a person's registration has expired without being renewed that person is deemed to be registered for a period of one month after that expiry, and if, at the end of that period of one month, that person has not renewed his or her registration, the Board must remove that person's name from the register in accordance with section 16A.

(4)If the Board is satisfied that an applicant would not be able to provide the standard of veterinary services ordinarily required in Victoria because the applicant has not practised as a veterinary practitioner within the 5 years preceding the application it may refuse to renew the registration unless the applicant undertakes further training approved by the Board.

(5)The Board may refuse to renew the registration of an applicant on any ground on which the Board might refuse to grant registration.

13Restoration of name to the register

If a person whose name has been removed from the register under section 12(3)—

(a)applies to the Board within 2 years from the date of that removal to have his or her name restored to the register; and

(b)pays to the Board the fee fixed by the Board for that purpose within that period—

the Board may restore that person's name to the register.

14Effect of suspension of registration

For the purposes of this Act (except in Part 3), a veterinary practitioner whose registration is suspended is deemed to be not registered for the period of that suspension.

14ARegistration may be surrendered

A registered veterinary practitioner may surrender the practitioner's registration or an endorsement on a general registration.

15Registration obtained by fraud

(1)If the Board believes that the registration or endorsement of registration granted under this Part of a veterinary practitioner has been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation or that the qualifications upon which the veterinary practitioner relied for registration or endorsement of registration have been withdrawn the Board must conduct a hearing into the matter.

(2)The Board must give notice of the time and place of the hearing to the veterinary practitioner.

(3)The provisions applying to the conduct of a formal hearing under Part 3 apply to a hearing under this section as if a hearing under this section were a formal hearing.

(4)If, at the end of the hearing, the Board determines that the registration or endorsement of registration of the veterinary practitioner has been obtained by fraud or misrepresentation or that the qualifications upon which the veterinary practitioner has relied for registration have been withdrawn, the Board must cancel the registration of the veterinary practitioner.

Division 2—The Register

16The Register

(1)The Board must cause to be kept a register of all veterinary practitioners to whom the Board has granted registration under this Act.

(1A)Despite anything to the contrary in this Act, the Board is not required to keep on the register any information relating to a veterinary practitioner who is a registered veterinary practitioner by operation of section 3A.

(2)The register is to be called the Register of Veterinary Practitioners.

(3)The following particulars must be included on the register against the name of the veterinary practitioner to whom they apply—

(a)the postal address of the practitioner;

(aa)the address of the premises where the practitioner carries on veterinary practice;

(b)particulars of the type of registration of the practitioner;

(c)any endorsement of the practitioner's registration as a specialist practitioner;

(d)any current suspension of the registration of the veterinary practitioner;

(e)any current condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the veterinary practitioner;

(f)the prescribed information.

(4)The register may be inspected at the office of the Board by any person during ordinary office hours without charge.

(5)A person may obtain a copy of or an extract from the register on payment of the fee determined by the Board.

(6)A registered veterinary practitioner's private address must not appear on that part of the register which is open to the public for inspection, unless the veterinary practitioner so authorises.

(7)The Board may give register particulars to an interstate veterinary registration authority for the purposes of enabling that authority to administer or execute the law under which that authority confers or grants a right to carry on or engage in veterinary practice.

(8)In subsection (7)—

register particulars means the particulars included in the register against the name of a veterinary practitioner in accordance with subsection (3).

16ABoard may remove particulars of persons no longer registered or holding a specialist endorsement

(1)The Board may remove from the register the name and particulars of a person whose registration as a veterinary practitioner has expired or has been cancelled or surrendered under this Act as soon as practicable after the expiry, cancellation or surrender of the registration.

(2)The Board may remove from the register the particulars of an endorsement on a general registration that has been cancelled or surrendered under this Act as soon as practicable after the cancellation or surrender of the endorsement.

17Certificates

(1)Upon—

(a)granting registration to a person under this Part; or

(b)endorsing the registration of a practitioner as a specialist practitioner; or

(c)renewing the registration of a person under this Part—

the Board must issue a certificate of registration to that person.

(2)The following particulars must be included on a certificate of registration—

(a)any endorsement as a specialist practitioner; and

(b)any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the veterinary practitioner; and

(c)the prescribed information.

(3)If a veterinary practitioner's registration or endorsement of registration under this Part has been suspended or cancelled, that veterinary practitioner must return the certificate of registration or the certificate of endorsement (as applicable) to the Board.

Penalty:20 penalty units.

18Use of certificate as evidence

A certificate purporting to be signed by the President or any 2 members of the Board to the effect that—

(a)a veterinary practitioner is or is not or was or was not, at any specified date, registered; or

(b)the veterinary practitioner's registration is or is not or was or was not, at any specified date, endorsed under section 8; or

(c)that any disciplinary or other action is or is not or was or was not, at any specified date, being taken against that veterinary practitioner—

is evidence and, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, is proof of the matters stated in it.

19Requirement to notify the Board of change of address

A registered veterinary practitioner granted registration under this Part must notify the Board of any change of any address of the veterinary practitioner which appears on the register within 28 days after that change.

Penalty:10 penalty units.

PART 3—INVESTIGATIONS INTO REGISTERED VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS

Division 1—Preliminary investigations into professional conduct

20Complaints about the conduct of registered veterinary practitioners

(1)A person may make a complaint to the Board about the professional conduct of a person who is, or was at the time the conduct took place, a registered veterinary practitioner in Victoria.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1), professional conduct involving the treatment or diagnosis of an animal situated outside Victoria by the registered veterinary practitioner while in Victoria is taken to be professional conduct in Victoria.

Example

A registered veterinary practitioner who is in Victoria and who, by audio-visual link, makes a diagnosis in relation to an animal in New South Wales is to be taken to be engaging in professional conduct in Victoria.

(3)Subsection (2) does not limit what may constitute professional conduct in Victoria.

21When complaints about professional conduct are to be investigated by the Board

(1)The Board must investigate a complaint concerning the professional conduct of the practitioner about whom the complaint has been made unless the Board has determined the complaint to be lacking in substance or vexatious.

(2)In order to determine whether or not it is necessary to conduct a formal or informal hearing into a complaint, the Board must conduct a preliminary investigation into the complaint.

(3)The Board may, in writing, delegate to—

(a)an officer of the Board; or

(b)a lawyer or investigator retained by the Board; or

(c)a subcommittee of the Board consisting of a member of the Board and one or two other persons, each of whom must be either a member of the Board or an approved person, who are all named in the delegation—

its power to conduct a preliminary investigation into a complaint, other than its power to make determinations upon a preliminary investigation.

(4)The Board must ensure that any person who provides information to the Board during the course of an investigation is made aware that the investigation is being conducted.

22Outcome of preliminary investigation

(1)Upon completing a preliminary investigation, the person or persons conducting the investigation may make any one or more of the following recommendations—

(a)that the investigation into the matter should not proceed further; or

(b)that an informal or formal hearing should be held into the matter; or

(c)that a preliminary investigation be commenced under section 25.

(2)The Board must determine whether or not to act on the recommendations of the person or persons conducting the preliminary investigation.

23Power of Board to institute a hearing into professional conduct

The Board may, of its own motion, determine to conduct a formal or informal hearing into the professional conduct of a person who is or was, at the time the conduct took place, a registered veterinary practitioner, without conducting a preliminary investigation.

24Suspension of, or imposition of conditions on, registration on decision to conduct investigation or hearing into conduct of veterinary practitioner

(1)This section applies if the Board has made a determination—

(a)to conduct a preliminary investigation into a complaint made to the Board about the professional conduct of a registered veterinary practitioner; or

(b)to conduct a formal or informal hearing into the professional conduct of a registered veterinary practitioner without a preliminary investigation.

(1A)The Board may—

(a)enter into a written agreement with the registered veterinary practitioner to impose a condition, limitation or restriction on the practitioner's registration until any investigation and any hearing into the matter is completed if the Board is of the opinion that to do so would not pose a serious risk to the health and safety of the public or endanger the health and welfare of animals; or

(b)suspend the registration of the registered veterinary practitioner until any investigation and any hearing into the matter is completed if the Board is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so because there is a serious risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.

(2)If the Board has suspended the registration of a veterinary practitioner under subsection (1A)(b), it must—

(a)immediately notify the veterinary practitioner of that suspension and the reasons for the suspension; and

(b)ensure that the matter is investigated as soon as possible after that suspension.

(3)The Board, before any investigation or hearing into the matter is completed, must revoke the suspension of a veterinary practitioner's registration under subsection (1A)(b) if the Board is no longer of the opinion that it is necessary to suspend the registration because there is a serious risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.

(3A)The Board may, before any investigation or hearing into the matter is completed—

(a)with the agreement of the registered veterinary practitioner, vary any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the practitioner under subsection (1A)(a); or

(b)revoke any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the practitioner under subsection (1A)(a).

(3B)If, at a formal hearing, the Board determines to impose a condition, limitation or restriction on the registration of a veterinary practitioner under section 45(2)(f), any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the practitioner under subsection (1A)(a) is revoked on the day of the determination.

(4)If the suspension of a veterinary practitioner's registration under subsection (1A)(b) or a condition, restriction or limitation imposed under subsection (1A)(a) is revoked under this section, the Board must immediately serve a written notice personally or by registered post on the veterinary practitioner informing the practitioner of that revocation and the date of that revocation.

Division 2—Preliminary investigation into the health of registered veterinary practitioners

25Commencement of preliminary investigation

If the Board believes the ability of a registered veterinary practitioner to practise veterinary medicine or surgery may be affected because—

(a)of the physical or mental health of the veterinary practitioner; or

(b)the veterinary practitioner has an incapacity; or

(c)the veterinary practitioner has a severe substance dependence—

the Board may appoint one of its members or a registered medical practitioner to conduct a preliminary investigation into the matter.

26Notification to veterinary practitioner

(1)The member of the Board appointed to investigate the matter must give notice of the preliminary investigation to the veterinary practitioner.

(2)A notice under subsection (1) must—

(a)be in writing; and

(b)be sent by registered post as soon as possible after the Board’s decision has been made; and

(c)advise the veterinary practitioner of the nature of the matter to be investigated; and

(d)ask the veterinary practitioner to advise the Board as to whether or not he or she will agree to undergo a medical examination within 28 days after receiving the notice; and

(e)advise the veterinary practitioner of the procedures that can be taken under this Part.

26ASuspension of, or imposition of conditions on, registration if preliminary investigation to be conducted on health etc. of practitioner

(1)This section applies if the Board has appointed a person to conduct a preliminary investigation under section 25 into the matter of whether the ability of a registered veterinary practitioner to practise veterinary medicine or surgery may be affected.

(1A)The Board may—

(a)enter into a written agreement with the registered veterinary practitioner to impose a condition, limitation or restriction on the practitioner's registration until the preliminary investigation and any hearing into the matter is completed if the Board reasonably believes that to do so would not pose an unacceptable risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered; or

(b)suspend the registration of the registered veterinary practitioner concerned.

(2)The Board must not suspend the registration of a veterinary practitioner under subsection (1A)(b) unless the Board reasonably believes that the ability of the veterinary practitioner to practise veterinary medicine or surgery is likely to be affected to such an extent that to allow the veterinary practitioner to continue to practise would pose an unacceptable risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.

(3)A veterinary practitioner whose registration is suspended under this section may make written submissions to the Board regarding the continuation of the suspension within the period specified by the Board in the notice under subsection (6).

(4)The Board must consider any submission made by a veterinary practitioner under subsection (3) within the period specified by the Board.

(5)A suspension under this section takes effect on the day the veterinary practitioner is served with a notice under subsection (6).

(6)If the Board has suspended the registration of a veterinary practitioner under this section, the Board must—

(a)immediately serve a written notice on the veterinary practitioner which states the following—

(i)that the registration of the veterinary practitioner is suspended from the day the notice is served on the veterinary practitioner;

(ii)the reasons for the suspension;

(iii)that the veterinary practitioner may make submissions under subsection (3) within the period specified in the notice; and

(b)ensure that the matter on which the suspension is based is investigated as soon as possible after that suspension.

(7)A notice under subsection (6) may be served on the veterinary practitioner personally or by registered post.

(7A)The Board may, before the preliminary investigation or any hearing into the matter is completed—

(a)with the agreement of the veterinary practitioner, vary any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the veterinary practitioner under subsection (1A)(a); or

(b)revoke any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the veterinary practitioner under subsection (1A)(a).

(7B)If the veterinary practitioner enters into an agreement with the Board under section 29 or 31, any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the practitioner under subsection (1A)(a) is revoked on the day on which the agreement is made.

(7C)If, at a formal hearing, the Board determines to impose a condition, limitation or restriction on the registration of a veterinary practitioner under section 46(2)(a), any condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of the practitioner under subsection (1A)(a) is revoked on the day of the determination.

(8)A suspension under this section remains in force until the earliest of the following occurs—

(a)the Board, after considering the reports given under section 28, decides that further action should be taken and an agreement between the Board and the veterinary practitioner is reached under section 29;

(b)the Board refers the matter on which the suspension is based to a formal hearing under section 30;

(c)the Board cancels the registration of the veterinary practitioner on the request of the veterinary practitioner;

(d)the Board revokes the suspension under subsection (9).

(9)The Board must revoke a suspension under this section if the Board no longer reasonably believes that the ability of the veterinary practitioner to practise veterinary medicine or surgery is likely to be affected to such an extent that to allow the veterinary practitioner to continue to practise would pose an unacceptable risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.

(10)If under this section the suspension of a veterinary practitioner's registration ceases or a condition, limitation or restriction imposed on the registration of a veterinary practitioner under subsection (1A)(a) is revoked, the Board must immediately serve a written notice personally or by registered post on the veterinary practitioner informing the veterinary practitioner—

(a)in the case of the cessation of a suspension, that the suspension has ceased and the date on which it ceased; or

(b)in the case of the revocation of a condition, limitation or restriction, that the condition, limitation or restriction has been revoked and the date of the revocation.

27Examination as to health of practitioner

(1)If the veterinary practitioner agrees to undergo a medical examination within 28 days, the veterinary practitioner must be examined by a registered practitioner who is agreed upon by the Board and the veterinary practitioner.

(2)If the Board and the veterinary practitioner are unable to agree upon a registered practitioner to conduct the examination, the Minister must appoint a registered practitioner to perform the examination.

(3)The Board must pay for the examination.

(4)A person appointed to conduct the preliminary investigation under section 25 must not perform a medical examination under this section.

(5)In this section, registered practitioner means—

(a)a registered medical practitioner; or

(b)a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the psychology profession (other than as a student); or

(c)a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the physiotherapy profession (other than as a student); or

(d)a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the osteopathy profession (other than as a student); or

(e)a person registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law to practise in the chiropractic profession (other than as a student.

28Report of examination

(1)The examining medical practitioner must give a report of his or her examination to the person appointed to investigate the matter and, not more than 7 days later, to the veterinary practitioner being investigated.

(2)The person appointed to investigate the matter must discuss the report with the veterinary practitioner and, in the case of an adverse finding in the report, the possible ways of dealing with that finding.

(3)After discussing the report with the veterinary practitioner, the person appointed to investigate the matter must report to the Board.

(4)Despite subsection (1), if the report contains information of a medical or psychiatric nature concerning the veterinary practitioner, and it appears to the person appointed to conduct the investigation that the disclosure of that information to the veterinary practitioner might be prejudicial to the physical or mental health or well being of the veterinary practitioner, the investigator may decide not to give that information to the veterinary practitioner but to give it instead to another veterinary practitioner or another registered medical practitioner nominated by that veterinary practitioner.

(5)Before acting under subsection (4), the investigator must report to the Board and, if the investigator is not a veterinary practitioner and the Board is of the opinion that it is necessary for the investigation of the matter to be continued by a veterinary practitioner, the Board may appoint a veterinary practitioner to continue the investigation.

29Outcome of preliminary investigation

(1)If, after considering the reports given under section 28, the Board decides that further action should be taken, the Board must ask the veterinary practitioner whether or not he or she is prepared to agree to—

(a)alter the way in which he or she practises veterinary surgery or medicine; or

(b)the imposition of conditions, limitations or restrictions on his or her registration; or

(c)the alteration or cancellation of any endorsement of registration as a specialist veterinary practitioner under section 8; or

(d)the suspension of his or her registration for the period of time specified by the Board.

(2)The Board may take any action that is necessary to implement an agreement under subsection (1).

30Referral to formal hearing

If a registered veterinary practitioner who is the subject of a preliminary investigation under this Division—

(a)does not agree to undergo a medical examination or does not abide by an agreement to undergo a medical examination; or

(b)does not reach an agreement with the Board under section 29 or does not abide by an agreement reached with the Board under section 29—

the Board may refer the matter to a formal hearing.

31Request for conditions, limitations or restrictions

(1)A registered veterinary practitioner who believes that his or her ability to practise veterinary surgery or medicine is affected because—

(a)of his or her physical or mental health; or

(b)he or she has an incapacity; or

(c)he or she has a severe substance dependence—

may ask the Board to impose a condition, limitation or restriction on his or her practice.

(2)If the Board and the veterinary practitioner agree upon the condition, limitation or restriction to be imposed, the Board may impose it.

(3)If the veterinary practitioner and the Board do not agree upon the condition, limitation or restriction to be imposed, the Board must refer the matter to a preliminary investigation.

*                *                *                *                *

33Immediate suspension of registration

(1)If the Board has referred a matter to a formal hearing under this Division, the Board may suspend the registration of the veterinary practitioner until the hearing is completed, if the Board is of the opinion that the ability of the veterinary practitioner to practise veterinary surgery and medicine is affected to such an extent that to allow the veterinary practitioner to continue to practise would pose a serious risk that the health and safety of the public or the health and welfare of animals will be endangered.

(2)If the Board has suspended the registration of a veterinary practitioner under subsection (1), it must—

(a)immediately notify the veterinary practitioner of that suspension and the reasons for the suspension; and

(b)ensure that the matter is investigated as soon as possible after that suspension.

Division 3—Formal and informal hearings

Subdivision 1—Informal hearings

34Establishment and notification of an informal hearing

If the Board has determined under section 22 or 23 that an informal hearing be held into the professional conduct of a person who is, or was at the time the conduct took place, a registered veterinary practitioner, the Board must—

(a)appoint a panel to hold the hearing; and

(b)fix a time and place for the hearing to be held; and

(c)by registered post, serve a notice, which complies with section 36, on the person who is the subject of the hearing; and

(d)serve notice on any complainant by registered post under section 52(4)(a) and (b).

35Constitution of a panel for an informal hearing

(1)A panel appointed under section 34 is to consist of not more than 3 persons—

(a)who are to be members of the Board; and

(b)of whom, at least 1 is not to be a registered veterinary practitioner.

(2)The President or (if the President is unable to act) the Deputy President of the Board may appoint an approved person to be a member of a panel in any or all of the following circumstances—

(a)the Board is unable to appoint a panel because there are not enough members available to sit on it;

(b)the Board is of the opinion that a person with special expertise is required for the hearing;

(c)the Board considers that in the circumstances it is desirable that a lawyer should sit on the panel.

(2A)Despite subsection (2), at least one member of a panel must be a member of the Board.

(3)A person who has undertaken a preliminary investigation of the matter is not entitled to be a member of the panel.

*                *                *                *                *

36Notice of an informal hearing

A notice of an informal hearing under section 34 must—

(a)state the nature of the hearing and the allegations made against the person who is the subject of the hearing; and

(b)give the time and place of the hearing; and

(c)state that the person who is the subject of the hearing may choose to have the matter determined by a formal hearing and state the differences between a formal and informal hearing; and

(d)state that the person who is the subject of the hearing is entitled to be present and to make submissions and to be accompanied by another person but is not entitled to be represented, that the hearing is not open to the public and list the possible findings the panel can make or orders the panel can give.

37Conduct of an informal hearing

At an informal hearing—

(a)the panel must hear and determine the matter before it; and

(b)the person who is the subject of the hearing is entitled to be present, to make submissions and to be accompanied by another person but is not entitled to be represented; and

(c)the proceedings of the hearing must not be open to the public.

38Findings and determinations of an informal hearing

(1)After considering all the submissions made to the hearing the panel may find either—

(a)that the person who is the subject of the hearing has, whether by act or omission, engaged in unprofessional conduct which is not of a serious nature; or

(b)that the person who is the subject of the hearing has not engaged in unprofessional conduct.

(2)If, in the case of a registered veterinary practitioner, the panel finds that the veterinary practitioner has, whether by act or omission, engaged in unprofessional conduct which is not of a serious nature, the panel may make one or more of the following determinations—

(a)that the veterinary practitioner undergo counselling;

(aa)that the veterinary practitioner undertake further education of the kind stated in the determination and to complete it within the period specified in the determination;

(b)that the veterinary practitioner be cautioned;

(c)that the veterinary practitioner be reprimanded.

(3)If, in the case of a person who has ceased to be a registered veterinary practitioner, the panel finds that the person, whether by act or omission engaged in unprofessional conduct which is not of a serious nature, the panel may make one or more of the following determinations—

(a)that the person is not entitled to re-apply for registration unless the person—

(i)has undergone counselling; or

(ii)has undertaken further education of the kind stated in the determination and completed it within the period specified in the determination;

(b)that the person be cautioned;

(c)that the person be reprimanded.

39Change of informal hearing to formal hearing during course of hearing

If, before the end of the hearing—

(a)the person who is the subject of the hearing fails to attend the hearing without good cause; or

(b)the person who is the subject of the hearing requests that a formal hearing be held; or

(c)the panel is of the opinion that a formal hearing should be held—

the panel must abandon the informal hearing and refer the matter to a formal hearing.

40Request for formal hearing upon completion of informal hearing

Upon the completion of an informal hearing, the person who was the subject of the hearing may, within 45 days, request that a formal hearing be held to review any findings and determinations of the informal hearing.

Subdivision 2—Formal hearings

41Establishment and notification of formal hearing

If—

(a)the Board has determined that a formal hearing be held under section 22 or 23 or has referred a matter to a formal hearing under section 30; or

(b)a person has requested a formal hearing under section 40; or

(c)a panel has referred a matter to a formal hearing under section 39—

the Board must—

(d)appoint a panel to hold the hearing; and

(e)fix a time and place for the hearing to be conducted; and

(f)serve a notice on the person who is the subject of the hearing by registered post which complies with section 43; and

(g)serve a notice on any complainant by registered post under section 52(4)(a) and (b).

42Constitution of a hearing panel for a formal hearing

(1)A panel appointed under section 41 must consist of not less than 3 persons—

(a)who are to be members of the Board; and

(b)of whom 1 is to be a lawyer and at least 1 is to be a registered veterinary practitioner.

(2)The President or (if the President is unable to act) the Deputy President of the Board may appoint an approved person to be a member of a panel in any or all of the following circumstances—

(a)the Board is unable to appoint a panel because there are not enough members available to sit on it;

(b)the Board is of the opinion that a person with special expertise is required for the hearing;

(c)the Board considers that in the circumstances it is desirable that a lawyer should sit on the panel.

(2A)Despite subsection (2), at least one member of a panel must be a member of the Board.

(3)The following people are not entitled to be members of a panel for a formal hearing—

(a)a person who has undertaken a preliminary investigation of the matter which is the subject of the hearing;

(b)a person who has been a member of a panel which held an informal hearing into the matter.

*                *                *                *                *

43Notice of a formal hearing

A notice of a formal hearing under section 41 must—

(a)state the nature of the hearing and the allegations made against the person who is the subject of the hearing; and

(b)give the time and place of the hearing; and

(c)state that there is a right to make submissions and to be represented by an Australian legal practitioner, that the hearing is open to the public, list the possible findings the panel can make and state that there is a right to apply for review of the panel's findings.

43APreliminary conferences

(1)The Board may, at any time before a formal hearing, require the person who is the subject of the hearing to attend one or more preliminary conferences with a person appointed by the Board.

(2)The Board must not appoint a person who is a member of the Board or a hearing panel to conduct a preliminary conference.

(3)The functions of a preliminary conference are to—

(a)identify and clarify the nature of the issues in dispute in the matter;

(b)identify the issues to be considered or determined by the panel;

(c)allow guidance to be given concerning the conduct of the matter.

(4)The Board must give notice of the preliminary conference to the person who is the subject of the hearing.

(5)A preliminary conference must be held in private unless the person presiding directs otherwise.

(6)Except as provided for in this section, the procedure for a preliminary conference is at the discretion of the person presiding.

43BRequirements as to attendance at preliminary conference

The Board may require a person who is the subject of a formal hearing to attend a preliminary conference either personally or by a representative who is an Australian legal practitioner.

44Conduct of a formal hearing

At a formal hearing—

(a)the hearing panel must hear and determine the matter before it; and

(b)the person who is the subject of the hearing is entitled to be present, to make submissions and to be represented by an Australian legal practitioner; and

(c)if the hearing arises out of a complaint, the identity of the complainant is not to be published or broadcast and the complainant—

(i)in the case of a proceeding which has not been closed under paragraph (d), is entitled to be present; and

(ii)if not called as a witness, may make submissions with the permission of the Board; and

(d)the proceedings are to be open to the public unless the panel determines that the proceedings should be closed because the hearing is taking evidence of intimate, personal or financial matters and, if the panel has determined that the proceedings are closed, the panel may determine that the identity of any witness giving evidence in the proceedings is not to be published or broadcast.

45Findings and determinations of a formal hearing into conduct

(1)After considering all the submissions made to a formal hearing under section 44 into the professional conduct of a person the panel may find that—

(a)the person has, whether by act or omission, engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature; or

(b)the person has, whether by act or omission, engaged in unprofessional conduct which is not of a serious nature; or

(c)the person has not engaged in unprofessional conduct.

(2)If, in the case of a registered veterinary practitioner, the panel finds that the veterinary practitioner has, whether by act or omission, engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature, the panel may make one or more of the following determinations—

(a)require the veterinary practitioner to undergo counselling;

(b)caution the veterinary practitioner;

(c)reprimand the veterinary practitioner;

(d)require the veterinary practitioner to give any written undertaking about his or her conduct as a veterinary practitioner that the Board considers appropriate;

(e)require the veterinary practitioner to undertake further education or training of the kind stated in the determination, or to successfully complete an examination or assessment conducted by or on behalf of the Board, within the period specified in the determination;

(f)impose conditions, limitations or restrictions on the registration of the veterinary practitioner;

(g)that the veterinary practitioner be fined an amount specified by the panel, which must not be more than $10 000;

(h)that the veterinary practitioner pay the reasonable costs of, and incidental to, the hearing, which are determined by the panel;

(i)alter or cancel any endorsement under section 8 of the registration of the veterinary practitioner as a veterinary specialist;

(j)suspend the registration of the veterinary practitioner for the period specified in the determination;

(k)cancel the registration of the veterinary practitioner.

(2A)If, in the case of a person who has ceased to be a registered veterinary practitioner, the panel finds that the person, whether by act or omission engaged in unprofessional conduct of a serious nature, the panel may make one or more of the following determinations—

(a)that the person is not entitled to re-apply for registration unless the person does any one or more of the following—

(i)undergoes counselling;

(ii)undertakes further education of the kind stated in the determination and completes it within the period specified in the determination;

(iii)gives any written undertaking about the person's conduct as a veterinary practitioner that the Board considers appropriate;

(b)that the person be cautioned;

(c)that the person be reprimanded;

(ca)that the person be fined an amount specified by the panel, which must not be more than $2000;

(cb)that the person pay the reasonable costs of, and incidental to, the hearing, which are determined by the panel;

(d)that the person is not entitled to re-apply for registration for the period specified by the panel in the determination;

(da)that if the person re‑applies for registration, the condition, limitation or restriction specified in the determination be imposed on the registration of the person;

(e)that the person is not entitled to apply for endorsement of registration as a specialist practitioner for the period specified by the panel in the determination.

(3)If the panel finds under subsection (1)(b) that the veterinary practitioner has, whether by act or omission, engaged in unprofessional conduct which is not of a serious nature, the panel may make any determination which a panel at an informal hearing is able to make upon making such a finding.

(4)The panel must not impose a fine where the conduct which is the subject of the finding has resulted in a fine being imposed by another tribunal or court of law.

(5)If the panel has made a determination under subsection (2)(a), (d) or (e) and the veterinary practitioner has not complied with the determination within the time specified in the determination, the Board may suspend the veterinary practitioner's registration until the determination is complied with.

46Findings and determinations of a formal hearing into ability to practise

(1)After considering all the submissions made to a formal hearing under section 44 into the ability to practise of a person, the panel may find that—

(a)the ability of the person to practise is affected because of one or more of the following—

(i)the physical or mental health of the person;

(ii)the person has an incapacity;

(iii)the person has a severe substance dependence; or

(b)the ability of the person is not affected.

(2)If, in the case of a registered veterinary practitioner, the panel makes a finding under subsection (1)(a), the panel may make one or more of the following determinations—

(a)to impose conditions, limitations or restrictions on the registration of the veterinary practitioner;

(b)to suspend the registration of the veterinary practitioner for the period and subject to the conditions, limitations and restrictions, if any, specified in the determination.

(3)If, in the case of a person who has ceased to be a registered veterinary practitioner, the panel makes a finding under subsection (1)(a), the panel may make the determination that, if the person re‑applies for registration, the condition, limitation or restriction specified in the determination be imposed on the registration of the person.

Division 4—General provisions relating to investigations

47Procedure at formal and informal hearings

At a formal or informal hearing—

(a)subject to this Part, the procedure of a panel is in its discretion; and

(b)the proceedings must be conducted with as little formality and technicality as the requirements of this Act and the proper consideration of the matter permit; and

(c)a panel is not bound by rules of evidence but may inform itself in any way it thinks fit, including by reference to any guidelines issued under section 62(1)(e) as to appropriate standards of veterinary practice and veterinary facilities; and

(d)a panel is bound by the rules of natural justice.

47AConferences, meetings or hearings may be held by remote means.

(1)For the purposes of this Part a preliminary conference, meeting, informal hearing or formal hearing may be held by means of an audio link or an audio visual link if—

(a)holding the conference, meeting or hearing by those means is the only way to comply with any requirements imposed by law; or

Example

A requirement imposed by a law could be that there may be no gatherings of people during a pandemic other than for reasons that do not include the holding of conferences, meetings or hearings.

(b)the person who is required to attend the conference or meeting or entitled to be present at the hearing agrees that the conference, meeting or hearing may be held by either of those means.

(2)For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), an agreement may be made by any means of electronic communication.

48Powers of panel conducting a formal hearing

Sections 14, 15, 16 and 21A of the Evidence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1958, as in force immediately before their repeal, apply to a panel in the conduct of a formal hearing as if it were a Board or the Chairman of a Board appointed by the Governor in Council.

49Determinations

(1)A determination made by a panel on a hearing comes into operation on its making or at any later time stated in the determination.

(2)A determination of a panel is to have effect as if it were a determination of the Board.

(3)If a fine is imposed by a panel it may be recovered by the Board as a debt due to the Board.

50Revocation of suspension or removal of condition, limitation or restriction

(1)If the Board has suspended the registration of a veterinary practitioner until the completion of a hearing and, at the completion of the hearing, the panel determines that the suspension should be revoked, the Board must revoke the suspension.

(1A)If the Board revokes the suspension of the registration of a veterinary practitioner under subsection (1), the Board must immediately notify the veterinary practitioner of that revocation.

(2)If a condition, limitation or restriction has been imposed on the registration of a veterinary practitioner and, at the completion of a hearing, the panel determines that the condition, limitation or restriction should be removed, the Board must remove that condition, limitation or restriction.

50AAgreements to amend, vary or revoke conditions or revoke suspensions

(1)The Board may, if the registered veterinary practitioner so agrees—

(a)amend, vary or revoke any condition imposed on the veterinary practitioner's registration by the Board without conducting an informal or formal hearing; or

(b)revoke a suspension of the veterinary practitioner's registration and impose a condition on the registration; or

(c)revoke a suspension of the veterinary practitioner's registration if the veterinary practitioner satisfies the Board that his or her ability to practise as a veterinary practitioner is no longer affected.

(2)If the Board and the registered veterinary practitioner fail to agree under subsection (1), the Board may refer the matter to a formal hearing.

51Reasons for determinations of panel or Board

(1)A panel must give reasons for a determination made under this Part to the person who was the subject of the determination within 28 days after the making of the determination.

(2)A person affected by a determination of a panel may apply to the panel for the reasons for that determination.

(3)An application under subsection (2) must be made within 45 days after the making of the determination and reasons must be given to the applicant within 45 days of receiving the application.

52Notifications

(1)If a determination has been made by a panel—

(a)imposing conditions, limitations or restrictions on the registration of a veterinary practitioner; or

(b)suspending the registration of a veterinary practitioner; or

(da)prescribing, for the purposes of section 86A, infringement offences and infringement penalties for infringement offences;

(e)penalties, not exceeding 10 penalty units, for breaches of the regulations;

(f)generally any matter or thing required or permitted to be prescribed or necessary to be prescribed to give effect to this Act.

(2)The regulations—

(a)may be of general or limited application; and

(b)may differ according to differences in time, place or circumstance; and

(c)may apply, adopt or incorporate any matter contained in any document, code, standard, rule, specification, or method, formulated, issued, prescribed or published by any person whether—

(i)wholly or partially or as amended by the regulations; or

(ii)as formulated, issued, prescribed or published at the time the regulations are made or at any time before then; or

(iii)as formulated, issued, prescribed or published from time to time; and

(d)may leave anything for the approval or satisfaction of a specified person.

PART 10—SAVINGS, TRANSITIONAL AND AMENDMENTS

Division 1—Savings and transitional

89Definitions

In this Part—

new Board means the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria established under this Act;

old Act means the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 as in force immediately before its repeal;

old Boardmeans the Veterinary Board of Victoria established under the old Act.

90Repeal

The Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 is repealed.

91Board succeeds old Board

(1)On the commencement of this section—

(a)the old Board is abolished and its members go out of office; and

(b)any rights, assets, liabilities and obligations of the old Board, immediately before its abolition, become rights, assets, liabilities and obligations of the new Board; and

(c)the new Board is substituted for the old Board as a party in any proceeding, contract, agreement or arrangement commenced or made by, against or in relation to the old Board; and

(d)the new Board may continue and complete any other continuing matter or thing commenced by, against or in relation to the old Board.

(2)On and from the commencement of this section, the assets that become assets of the new Board under subsection (1)—

(a)if they are moneys or amounts standing to the credit of any fund or account of the old Board, must be taken to form part of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund; and

(b)if they are assets in which the funds of the old Board have been invested, must be taken to be investments of the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund.

(3)A reference in any Act (other than this Act) or in any subordinate instrument within the meaning of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 to the old Board must, on and after the commencement of this section, be construed as a reference to the new Board established under this Act unless the context otherwise requires.

92Proceedings before the old Board

(1)If an investigation or inquiry into the activities or physical or mental health of a registered veterinary surgeon under the old Act has commenced but not been completed before the commencement of Part 3 of this Act—

(a)that investigation or inquiry may be completed on and after that date; and

(b)any appeal or other further proceedings which might have been taken in relation to that investigation or inquiry under the old Act might be taken on and after that date—

by the old Board as if this Act had not been enacted.

(2)The new Board must give effect to a decision made on an inquiry, investigation or appeal completed by the old Board as if it were a decision under this Act.

93Application of this Act to conduct occurring before commencement of this Act

(1)In the case of activities of a person who is deemed by section 94 to be a registered veterinary practitioner under this Act which occurred before the commencement of Part 3 and in respect of which no proceedings have been commenced under the old Act, this Act applies to the extent that there was power to conduct an inquiry under the old Act into those activities.

(2)Any determination or outcome of a hearing into those activities must be one which would have been available as a finding or decision in an inquiry by the Board under the old Act.

(3)This section does not apply to activities which are the subject of proceedings to which section 92 applies.

94Existing registrations

(1)A person who was registered as a veterinary surgeon under the old Act immediately before the commencement of Part 2 of this Act is deemed to have general registration under this Act.

(2)A person who was, immediately before the commencement of this section, registered as a specialist veterinary surgeon under section 24F of the old Act with respect to a special branch of veterinary sciences is deemed to have general registration under this Act with an endorsement of that practitioner's registration under section 8 of this Act to practise as a specialist practitioner in that branch.

(3)If a person is deemed to be registered under this section, and the registration of that person under the old Act, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was suspended, the registration of that person under this Act is deemed to be suspended for the remainder of the period for which that person's registration would have been suspended under the old Act.

(4)If a person is deemed to be registered under this section, and the registration of that person under the old Act, immediately before the commencement of this Act, was subject to conditions, limitations or restrictions, the registration of that person under this Act is deemed to be subject to the same conditions, limitations or restrictions as those to which the registration under the old Act was subject.

(5)The registration of a person who is deemed to be registered under this section expires (unless sooner cancelled) at the end of the period for which the person was registered under the old Act.

(6)A reference in any Act (other than this Act) or a subordinate instrument within the meaning of the Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 to a veterinary surgeon registered under the old Act who is deemed by subsection (1) to be registered under this Act must, on and after the commencement of this section, be construed as a reference to a veterinary practitioner registered under this Act unless the context otherwise requires.

95Preparation of annual report

The new Board shall prepare the annual reports that the old Board would have been required to prepare under the Financial Management Act 1994 in respect of any part of the financial year during which the old Board operated.

*                *                *                *                *

*                *                *                *                *

PART 11—SAVINGS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS ARISING FROM AMENDING ACTS

96Transitional provision—Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2014

(1)Despite section 11(1), in the case of the registration of a veterinary practitioner which is not specific which, immediately before the commencement of section 27(1) of the Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2014, was due to continue in force until 31 December 2015, the Board may renew the registration for a period of up to 18 months but ending no later than midnight on 30 June 2017.

(2)Despite section 86(1)(a), in the case of a fee for renewal of registration for the period of 18 months ending at midnight on 30 June 2017, the Board may fix a fee for a period of greater than 12 months.

97Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2016—Transitional provision

Section 26A as inserted by section 16 of the Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2016 applies in relation to a matter concerning a veterinary practitioner whether or not a preliminary investigation into the matter commenced before, on or after the commencement of section 16 of that Act.

98Transitional provisions—Agriculture Legislation Amendment Act 2022

(1)A person approved by the Governor in Council under section 35(4) immediately before the commencement of section 180(2) of the amending Act is taken to be an approved person until the term of the approval expires.

(2)A person approved by the Governor in Council under section 42(4) immediately before the commencement of section 182 of the amending Act is taken to be an approved person until the term of the approval expires.

(3)The amendments made to this Act by section 184 of the amending Act apply only to offences alleged to have been committed on or after the commencement of that section.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3), if an offence is alleged to have been committed between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the commencement of section 184 of the amending Act, the offence is alleged to have been committed before that commencement.

(5)The amendments made to this Act by section 186 of the amending Act apply only to offences alleged to have been committed on or after the commencement of that section.

(6)For the purposes of subsection (5), if an offence is alleged to have been committed between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the commencement of section 186 of the amending Act, the offence is alleged to have been committed before that commencement.

(7)The amendments made to this Act by section 187 of the amending Act apply only to offences alleged to have been committed on or after the commencement of that section.

(8)For the purposes of subsection (7), if an offence is alleged to have been committed between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the commencement of section 187 of the amending Act, the offence is alleged to have been committed before that commencement.

(9)The Board continues in operation despite the changes to its constitution made by section 188 of the Amending Act.

(10)In this section—

amending Act means the Agriculture Legislation Amendment Act 2022.

*                *                *                *                *

═══════════════

ENDNOTES

1   General information

See for Victorian Bills, Acts and current Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.

Minister's second reading speech—

Legislative Assembly: 22 May 1997

Legislative Council: 8 October 1997

The long title for the Bill for this Act was "A Bill to make further provision for the registration of veterinary practitioners, the investigation into the professional conduct or fitness to practise of registered veterinary practitioners, to establish the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria and the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board Fund, to repeal the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1958 and to make consequential amendments to other Acts and for other purposes."

Constitution Act 1975:

Section 85(5) statement:

Legislative Assembly: 22 May 1997

Legislative Council: 8 October 1997

Absolute majorities:

Legislative Assembly: 18 September 1997

Legislative Council: 14 October 1997

The Veterinary Practice Act 1997 was assented to on 28 October 1997 and came into operation as follows:

Part 1 (sections 1–3) on 28 October 1997: section 2(1); rest of Act on 17 March 1998: Government Gazette 12 March 1998 page 520.

INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984 (ILA)

Style changes

Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out in Schedule 1 to that Act.

References to ILA s. 39B

Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section

or clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original section or clause.

Interpretation

As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the following effects:

•     Headings

All headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act.  Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act.  This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule; sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.  See section 36(1A)(2A).

•     Examples, diagrams or notes

All examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act.  Any examples, diagrams or notes inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act.  See section 36(3A).

•     Punctuation

All punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001 forms part of that Act.  Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that Act.  See section 36(3B).

•     Provision numbers

All provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001.  Provision numbers include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs.  See section 36(3C).

•     Location of "legislative items"

A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note.  As from 13 October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another legislative item that relates to that provision.  For example, if a penalty at the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision.  See section 36B.

•     Other material

Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act. 
See section 36(3)(3D)(3E).

2   Table of Amendments

This publication incorporates amendments made to the Veterinary Practice Act 1997 by Acts and subordinate instrument.

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

Public Sector Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 46/1998

Assent Date:	26.5.98
Commencement Date:	S. 7(Sch. 1) on 1.7.98: s. 2(2)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Tribunals and Licensing Authorities (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998, No. 52/1998

Assent Date:	2.6.98
Commencement Date:	S. 311(Sch. 1 item 100) on 1.7.98: Government Gazette 18.6.98 p. 1512
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Licensing and Tribunal (Amendment) Act 1998, No. 101/1998

Assent Date:	1.12.98
Commencement Date:	S. 34 on 1.2.99: Government Gazette 24.12.98 p. 3204
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law (Further Revision) Act 2002, No. 11/2002

Assent Date:	23.4.02
Commencement Date:	S. 3(Sch. 1 item 63) on 24.4.02: s. 2(1)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Animals Legislation (Animal Welfare) Act 2003, No. 103/2003

Assent Date:	9.12.03
Commencement Date:	Ss 45–58, 60, 62–67(Sch.) on 10.12.03: s. 2(1); ss 59, 61 on 7.10.04: Government Gazette 30.9.04 p. 2721
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Public Administration Act 2004, No. 108/2004

Assent Date:	21.12.04
Commencement Date:	S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 214) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette 31.3.05 p. 602
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005, No. 18/2005

Assent Date:	24.5.05
Commencement Date:	S. 18(Sch. 1 item 112) on 12.12.05: Government Gazette 1.12.05 p. 2781
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Health Legislation (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2005, No. 42/2005

Assent Date:	2.8.05
Commencement Date:	Ss 53, 54 on 3.8.05: s. 2
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Health Professions Registration Act 2005, No. 97/2005

Assent Date:	7.12.05
Commencement Date:	S. 182(Sch. 4 item 53) on 1.7.07: s. 2(3)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Public Sector Acts (Further Workplace Protection and Other Matters) Act 2006, No. 80/2006

Assent Date:	10.10.06
Commencement Date:	S. 26(Sch. item 107) on 11.10.06: s. 2(1)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2009, No. 35/2009 (as amended by Nos 36/2009, 48/2010)

Assent Date:	30.6.09
Commencement Date:	Ss 109–119 on 31.12.10: s. 2(6)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions) Act 2009, No. 69/2009

Assent Date:	24.11.09
Commencement Date:	S. 54(Sch. Pt 2 item 54) on 1.1.10: s. 2(2)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provisions amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner Regulation) Act 2010, No. 13/2010

Assent Date:	30.3.10
Commencement Date:	S. 51(Sch. item 58) on 1.7.10: s. 2(2)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Severe Substance Dependence Treatment Act 2010, No. 43/2010 (as amended by No. 29/2011)

Assent Date:	10.8.10
Commencement Date:	S. 49 on 1.3.11: s. 2(2)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2010, No. 48/2010

Assent Date:	24.8.10
Commencement Date:	Ss 50–54 on 1.10.10: Government Gazette 30.9.10 p. 2286
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law Revision Act 2011, No. 29/2011

Assent Date:	21.6.11
Commencement Date:	S. 3(Sch. 1 item 102) on 22.6.11: s. 2(1)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law Revision Act 2013, No. 70/2013

Assent Date:	19.11.13
Commencement Date:	S. 4(Sch. 2 item 54) on 1.12.13: s. 2(1)
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014, No. 17/2014

Assent Date:	25.3.14
Commencement Date:	S. 160(Sch. 2 item 102) on 1.7.15: Special Gazette (No. 151) 16.6.15 p. 1
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Inquiries Act 2014, No. 67/2014

Assent Date:	23.9.14
Commencement Date:	S. 147(Sch. 2 item 39) on 15.10.14: Special Gazette (No. 364) 14.10.14 p. 2
CurrentState:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2014, No. 71/2014

Assent Date:	30.9.14
Commencement Date:	S. 38 on 1.7.15: s. 2(2); ss 24–37 on 1.7.15: s. 2(3)
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law Revision Act 2015, No. 21/2015

Assent Date:	16.6.15
Commencement Date:	S. 3(Sch. 1 item 59) on 1.8.15: s. 2(1)
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2016, No. 48/2016

Assent Date:	6.9.16
Commencement Date:	Ss 14–19 on 1.3.17: s. 2(2)
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018, No. 6/2018

Assent Date:	27.2.18
Commencement Date:	S. 68(Sch. 2 item 131) on 1.3.19: s. 2(2)
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2019, No. 40/2019

Assent Date:	6.11.19
Commencement Date:	Ss 84–95 on 17.12.19: Special Gazette (No. 537) 17.12.19 p. 2
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Agriculture Legislation Amendment Act 2022, No. 22/2022

Assent Date:	15.6.22
Commencement Date:	Ss 168–188, 190–193 on 1.10.22: Special Gazette (No. 506) 27.9.22 p. 1
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

Statute Law Revision Act 2025, No. 41/2025

Assent Date:	21.10.25
Commencement Date:	S. 4(Sch. 2 item 31) on 22.10.25: s. 2
Current State:	This information relates only to the provision/s amending the Veterinary Practice Act 1997

–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

3   Explanatory details

No entries at date of publication.