WA Division Advocacy Update - February

The AVA Advocacy team recently placed two submissions for DPIRD consultations; Western Australian Biosecurity and Agriculture Management Act Review and the Standards and Guidelines for the Health and Welfare of Horses in Western Australia consultation. Thank you to the AVA members who provided input to help inform the AVA submissions.

We have been advised that the WA Vet Regulations 2022 consultation will be progressing to its next stage early in 2023 and the AVA will be providing input to this. The reform to the WA Animal Welfare Act which has been underway since its review in 2018 is now at the stage of the second draft of the bill being almost complete and expected to be ready for consultation in March next year, with the final bill being introduced in the third quarter of next year.

The AVA continues to meet regularly and communicate closely with DPIRD around EAD preparedness. DPIRD has communicated to all vets registered in WA, through the Vet Practice Board, an opportunity to register interest in working in an emergency animal disease response and participating in EAD preparedness activities (such as training), DPIRD will use this to keep a list of interested veterinarians, provide updates and make available any EAD training opportunities.

The AVA’s WA Division Committee, Membership and Advocacy teams kept informed on the recent flood event in northern WA and continue to be available to assist vets who may be impacted.