Tasmanian Bills Clause Notes Tasmanian Bills Clause Notes[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
CLAUSE NOTES
Veterinary Surgeons Amendment Bill 2015
Clause 1 Short Title
This Act may be cited as the Veterinary Surgeons Amendment Act 2015.
Clause 2 Commencement
This Act commences on the day on which it receives Royal Assent.
Clause 3 Principal Act
In this Act, the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1987 is the Principal Act.
Clause 4 Section 4 amended (Constitution of Veterinary Board of Tasmania)
The Australian Veterinary Association (Tasmanian Division) is replaced with a
‘body determined by the Minister’ for the purpose of nominating 3 registered
veterinary surgeons to be appointed to the Veterinary Board of Tasmania. The
Australian Veterinary Association (Tasmanian Division) is no longer considered
to be representative of the majority of registered veterinary surgeons in
Tasmania.
Clause 5 Section 5B amended (Board to declare veterinary service standards)
A minor change to replace the undefined term ‘veterinary practitioner’ with
‘registered veterinary surgeon or registered veterinary specialist’ which is defined
in the interpretations section. Provides consistency throughout the Act.
Clause 6 Section 8 amended (Protection for members of the Board, &c.)
Inspectors of the Board are included in the protection provision of the Act.
Protection from personal liability for acts done in good faith will support
inspectors in the performance of their duties.
Clause 7 Section 18 amended (Application for registration)
Gives the Board the power to impose terms and conditions on new
registrations. This will, for example, assist new graduates or vets returning to the
profession after an absence by allowing them to gain experience under
supervision.
Page 1 of 3
Clause 8 Section 21A amended (Initial registration fee)
The date for annual registration renewals has been moved from 1 January to 1
July. The amendment allows better management of annual financial statements
and aligns Tasmania with other major states that support national recognition of
veterinary registration.
Clause 9 Section 22 amended (Annual registration fee)
The amended provision gives the Board the power to issue a late fee in
instances where annual registration fees are not paid by the due date. Previously
the Board has only been able to send a reminder letter.
The amendment also includes a provision for pro-rata fees to be paid by
registered veterinarians for the period 1 January to 30 June 2016 to account for
the adjustment of annual registration dates.
Clause 10 Section 26 amended (Notification of intention to provide veterinary services)
Under the amended provision sole practitioners are required to notify the Board
of their intention to provide veterinary services prior to establishment. The
provision already exists for companies and partnerships and enables the Board
to maintain a definitive list of veterinary practices that are subject to the
statutory and inspectorate functions of the Board.
Clause 11 Section 41 amended (Interpretation of Part VI)
The amendment clarifies that a failure to comply with any terms and conditions
applied to a new registration (refer to clause 7) is misconduct in a professional
respect.
Clause 12 Section 48 amended (Informal proceedings)
Reinstates provisions of a previous version of the Act which gives the Board the
power to hear complaints made against registered veterinary surgeons or
registered veterinary specialists by means of informal proceedings.
The provision was omitted from the Act unintentionally when it was last
amended and the Board has since experienced an unnecessary increase in
workload conducting formal investigations into every complaint it receives.
Additionally, it is unfair to subject the veterinarian to full and formal proceedings
for a complaint of a minor or trivial nature.
Clause 13 Section 54A amended (National coordination of registration and registration
information)
Replaces the requirement for the Board to notify other registering authorities
each time it receives a complaint. It is unfair to report a complaint against a
Page 2 of 3
registered veterinarian if it is unfounded or of a vexatious nature.
The Board is now required to notify other registering authorities of instances
where it has issued a caution.
Clause 14 Section 56 amended (Service of documents)
The provision is updated to include modern methods of correspondence which
will improve efficiencies for the Board. Currently correspondence can only be
served by registered post, which is slow in comparison to ordinary post, facsimile
and email.
Clause 15 Section 57 amended (Fees)
Makes provision for the Board to vary or waive a relevant fee. A standard power
included in many other Acts.
Clause 16 Repeal of Act
This Act is repealed on the three hundred and sixty fifth day from the day on
which it commences.
Page 3 of 3