Advocacy update - June/July 2022

11 Aug 2022

 

Hello colleagues, 

Since the AVA conference the team has been working very hard to represent the profession. 

 

Value of the Profession 

Emergency Animal Diseases

Scheduling of injectable meloxicam

  • TGA decision on scheduling of injectable meloxicam – The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has not yet announced the scheduling decisions on lidocaine and transmucosal meloxicam. It was expected by the end of July 2022. 

Get involved

  • In June and July the AVA made seven submissions on a variety of issues. We are encouraging you to get involved to provide input into 17 activities that the AVA is commenting on or undertaking. 
    • We encourage you to get involved and give feedback on the proposed amendments to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Code. The Australian position on the Part B consultation for draft WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code chapters were submitted to WOAH on 15 July 2022. They are now accessible on the Have Your Say website under Past Australian positions > February 2022 consultation (Part B). 
      • The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry have thanked everyone for providing comments for the consultation. There was a special thanks to those who commented on Chapter 7.5 – Animal welfare during slaughter. This was a significant chapter and the comments provided helped form a robust position. 
    • The AVBC have been reviewing accreditation standards and Day One Competencies. Through two feedback sessions with AVA members across a broad range on disciplines and career stages, as well as written submissions, we have contributed to this process. Stage 2 of the review stage is currently open, and we encourage you to get involved. 

 

Workforce sustainability and wellbeing 

 

Policy Advisory Council (PAC) Update 

The AVA’s Policy Advisory Council met in May 2022 for their annual meeting where they considered a total of 21 draft new policies and updates. 

The four policies below were voted to progress to the Board for ratification. This occurred at the AVA Board meeting on the 15 July. 

We are very grateful to the members who put so much work into these policies, all of which help to provide member guidance and inform our advocacy work. 

 

Key advocacy activities (Divisions): 

VIC 

  • The Victorian Division has discussed issues surrounding veterinarians in Victoria including workforce shortages and the implications for animal welfare, particularly in rural areas. The Division also spoke about the continuation of stakeholder involvement of the AVA in The New Animal Welfare Act, the involvement in the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning’s Wildlife Welfare communications and information dissemination for emergencies, and animal and veterinary welfare concerns of the trapping of Indian Myna birds in several local councils. 
  • The MAV/AVA desexing program will cease by the end of the year. 
  • The AVA is currently preparing a submission for the Victorian Election Platform which is due by August. We your comments which can be submitted on: https://www.ava.com.au/news/get-involved/consultation---vic-election-platform/ 
  • The AVA met with the Veterinary Practitioners Board to discuss common concerns heard via feedback from AVA members. 

TAS 

  • The AVA continues to represent veterinarians in the Wildlife Rehabilitation Sector Strategy Implementation Body. The AVA is communicating that funding for veterinary care and access to postgraduate training is essential to meet animal welfare of wildlife in Tasmania. 
  • The Tasmanian Division of AVA has submitted a response to the Animal Welfare Amendment Bill 2022, due 20 July 2022. The submission can be found on the AVA website. 

NSW  

 

ACT  

 

QLD  

  • The AVA’s Advocacy team are maintaining close contact with Biosecurity Queensland (BQ) and other bodies to keep informed, and provide input around, Emergency Animal Diseases (EAD). We have had assurances from BQ that a very strong Queensland and nationally linked strategy to manage the EAD threats to Queensland is in place. Biosecurity Queensland has integrated the employment conditions in the National Guidance document on the engagement of private veterinarians during an EAD response into the relevant Queensland Government templates. This will ensure that private veterinarians can be engaged efficiently and effectively into an EAD response in Queensland if required. 
  • With the recently confirmed case of Hendra Virus in Mackay, we are lobbying the relevant stakeholders to ensure that all veterinarians are provided timely communication and support. 
  • A letter has been sent to the QLD CVO regarding the implementation of the National Guidance document on the engagement of private veterinarians during an emergency animal disease response, and the refreshing of knowledge on EAD preparedness for the private veterinary sector. 
  • The Queensland Animal Care and Protection Amendment Bill 2022 Report was recently tabled in Parliament. We are pleased with the resulting changes made to provide a broader scope for veterinarians to euthanise sick or injured animals. 
  • A submission has also been made on the Draft Queensland Code of Professional Conduct for veterinarians. 
  • Work continues on wellbeing projects such as THRIVE and also campaigns around Public Awareness of the Profession. 
  • Authority to deal with oral preparations of ivermectin was established to place prescribing controls on oral preparations of ivermectin when used for non-ARTG indications. This emergency order is due to cease on 4 August 2022, however the arrangements stated under the emergency order have been transitioned to the Medicines Regulation. 

 

SA  

  • The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in South Australia has released their draft Radiation Protection and Control Regulations 2022 for consultation. The AVA is in the process of preparing a submission. The AVA has made a number of submissions in recent years and two key issues that we have been pushing for is for suitably qualified veterinary nurses to be able to take radiographs under veterinary direction and for veterinarians to be able to take CTs. 

 

NT 

  • The AVA are looking for members interested in joining the Education Advisory Committee. This Committee will be a skills-based committee of members and staff advising the Board on the AVA’s education priorities, and facilitating the implementation of the continuing education plan. 
  • Northern Territory residents and visitors are being reminded to protect themselves from mosquito bites following an increase in the number of feral pigs that have tested positive for Japanese encephalitis (JE) in the Top End region. 
  • The Northern Territory community, pig owners and hunters are being urged to be alert of the of risk of Brucella suis, with the disease detected in feral pigs across many parts of the Top End.
  • The AVA’s Advocacy team are maintaining close contact with government to keep informed and provide input around the Emergency Animal Diseases (EAD) issues. With the threat of FMD/LSD entering Australia, we are communicating with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that all veterinarians are provided support. 
  • A letter has been sent to the NT CVO regarding the implementation of the National Guidance document on the engagement of private veterinarians during an emergency animal disease response and the refreshing of knowledge on EAD preparedness for the private veterinary sector. 

 

WA  

  • Dr Cristy Secombe (Head of AVA Veterinary and Public Affairs) and Dr Garnett Hall (President WA Division Committee) met with the member for Hillary’s, the Hon. Caitlan Collins, who on behalf of the minister for Agriculture is researching the brachycephalic breeds issue and engaging with a broad number of stakeholders. At the meeting, the AVA policy was discussed along with some recent scientific literature evaluating the health issues that brachycephalic breeds have and their welfare impacts. 
  • The AVA Advocacy team, in consultation with the WA Division Committee, are preparing a submission for the WA Veterinary Regulations 2022 Tranche 2 consultation that will be consistent with AVA policies and positions. 
  • The AVA called for the regulation surrounding veterinary students’ prescription abilities to be changed in its consultation submission – in order to allow veterinary students to undertake their prescribed and supervised acts of vet medicine while in an employed role with a vet practice. 
  • DPIRD has commenced review of the BAM Act 2007. The AVA will provide a response with input from AVA members as the DPIRD consultation process is progressed. 
  • The AVA are engaging with the new Federal Parliament in several ways. We are also writing to all Federal MPs to highlight issues of concern to the veterinary profession. This is a joint letter from Dr Bronwyn Orr as National President and each Division President outlining their local issues. 

 

Key advocacy activities (Special Interest Groups): 

Australian Cattle Veterinarians (ACV) 

  • ACV is representing the AVA on a number of working groups and task forces associated with both lumpy skin disease and foot-and-mouth disease preparedness, as well as providing comment on documentation that informs the response. 
  • The ACV is continuing to contribute to the AVA response around pregnancy testing and spaying of cattle in QLD and WA.
     

Sheep, Camelid and Goat Veterinarians (SCGV) 

  • SCGV has been corresponding with the state veterinary surgeons’ boards to clarify the requirements for prescribing sheep management medications (i.e. for routine husbandry procedures). Liaison with the veterinary surgeons’ boards is ongoing. 

 

Australian Pig Veterinarians (APV) 

  • Japanese encephalitis 
    • According to the Department of Agriculture, Water and Environment, as of 1st June, Japanese encephalitis has been detected in piggeries across QLD, NSW, VIC and SA. All affected areas have moved from emergency response procedures to disease management programs. 
    • The infected jurisdictions have moved to resolve the infected premises in line with guidelines previously endorsed by the Consultative Committee on Emergency Animal Disease. As this involves a risk assessment of factors, the resolution of premises will differ across jurisdictions. 
  • Submission to APVMA on permethrin for use on pigs under emergency permit 
    • The APVMA have issued a Trade Advice Notice indicating that it is considering an application to issue an emergency use permit for permethrin in pigs. This is aimed at assisting in the control of mosquito vectors of Japanese encephalitis. 
    • The AVA strongly endorses issuance of this permit as it will provide the pig industry with a mosquito control alternative that delivers multiday efficacy to support control of JEV vectors. 

 

Commercial Poultry Veterinarians (CPV) 

  • RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard - Layer Hens 
    • RSPCA Australia is currently reviewing the RSPCA Approved Farming Scheme Standard – Layer hens – September 2015. As part of the initial review process, they sought feedback from external and internal stakeholders on the current 2015 version of the Standard. 
    • The standards review process has now reached the formal stakeholder consultation phase.  

 

Australian Veterinarians in Public Health (AVPH)  

  • Review the use of point-of-care testing (POCT) in animal health 
    • The AVA has been contacted by an epidemiology consultant from Ausvet, working on a project with DAWE to review the use of point-of-care testing (POCT) in animal health. DAWE is keen to develop national governance and quality management arrangements for POCT and has contracted Ausvet to produce a report summarising the user perspectives and recommendations for management options. 

 

Australian Veterinary Conservation Biology (AVCB) 

  • Survey of Member’s Views - AVCB Advocacy Priorities 
    • In 2021, referencing our policy positions and strategic plan, we put forward the following priority areas: Native Animal Welfare (Habitat Clearing); Sustainability and Biodiversity Conservation and Wild Horse Management (Kosciuszko National Park). These issues are part of our advocacy plan, and we are working on them at a SIG level. 
    • We have been asked to again forward our priorities for 2023. They include Native Animal Welfare and Habitat Clearing; Sustainability including Climate Change, Biodiversity and Veterinary Practice; Wild Horse Management and Welfare. 
  • Responsible cat management resources 
    • The Threatened Species Recovery Hub undertook extensive research and developed multiple resources to improve understanding of the impacts of cats on Australia’s native wildlife, and to improve the capacity to manage these impacts. These resources have now been grouped together on the Wildlife Health Australia website for easy reference by veterinarians and members of the community. 
  • Vertebrate extinction crisis and low hanging fruit
    • The likelihood of extinction within the next 20 years was determined for 47 Australian mammal, bird, reptile, frog and freshwater fish taxa previously identified as being highly imperilled. A 14-member expert elicitation panel, consisting of a mix of taxon experts and government managers of threatened species, estimated that there was a > 50% chance that nine taxa would be extinct by 2041. 
    • All the highly imperilled taxa occur wholly or partly in conservation reserves, within a total reserved area less than 2000km2. This allows for strong conservation measures on modest budgets. 

 

Public Affairs Update 

During June and July 2022, the AVA participated in a wide range of external stakeholder meetings, covering a range of issues from animal welfare, regulatory issues, workforce sustainability, and biosecurity including: 

  • Meeting with AVBC to discuss accreditation and competencies 
  • Meetings with state agricultural departments 
  • Meetings around FMD/LSD 
  • Meeting with international veterinary organisations 
  • Contribution to industry stakeholder working groups in the animal sector 

Since the last report the AVA has featured in the media and social media regularly. The topics that the AVA has provided comment on are: 

  • Workforce sustainability 
  • Emergency Animal Disease / Vets in EAD 
  • Pet Insurance 

We hope you are all staying safe in these challenging times and welcome any feedback you have around our updates, please email publicvetaffairs@ava.com.au 

 

Best Wishes, 

Cristy Secombe, Graham Pratt, Melanie Latter, and Jeffrey Wilkinson, on behalf of the Veterinary and Public Affairs team