{"id":"a-2025-20","name":"Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025","slug":"veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"act","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"20 of 2025","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":24584,"registerId":"act-a-2025-20-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025","content":"J2025-57\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nVeterinary Practice Amendment\nAct 2025\nA2025-20\nContents\nPage\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act 2\n2 Commencement 2\n3 Legislation amended 2\n4 Legislation repealed 2\nPart 2 Veterinary Practice Act 2018\n5 Objects of Act\nSection 6 (e) and (f) 3\n\nContents\nPage\ncontents 2 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 A2025-20\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n6 Qualification for general or non-practising registration\nSection 28, note 3\n7 Removal of veterinary practitioner from register\nSection 32 (2) (c) 3\n8 Considerations before making occupational discipline orders—\nsuspension or cancellation of registration\nSection 66 (2) (a) 3\n9 Interaction with commission\nSection 70 (4) (f) 4\n10 Board—functions\nSection 91 (1) 4\n11 Annual general meeting of veterinary profession\nSection 92 (2) 5\n12 Consultation about appointment to board\nNew section 96 (4) and (5) 5\n13 Declared professional bodies\nSection 143 6\n14 Regulation-making power\nSection 147 (1), note 6\n15 Section 147 (2) 6\n16 Section 147 (3) 6\n17 Dictionary, definition of declared professional body 6\nPart 3 Veterinary Practice Regulation 2018\n18 Part 3 heading 7\n19 New section 8A 7\n20 Notice of annual general meeting\nSection 10 (1) 8\n21 Dictionary, note 3 8\n22 Dictionary, definitions of corresponding law, letter of professional\nstanding and relevant authority 8\n\nJ2025-57\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nAustralian Capital Territory\nVeterinary Practice Amendment\nAct 2025\nA2025-20\nAn Act to amend the Veterinary Practice Act 2018 and the Veterinary Practice\nRegulation 2018, and for other purposes\nThe Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:\n\nPart 1 Preliminary\nSection 1\npage 2 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 A2025-20\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 1 Preliminary\n1 Name of Act\nThis Act is the Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025.\n2 Commencement\n(1) This Act (other than the provisions mentioned in subsection (2))\ncommences on the 14th day after its notification day.\nNote The naming and commencement provisions automatically commence on\nthe notification day (see Legislation Act, s 75 (1)).\n(2) The following provisions commence on 1 May 2026:\n• sections 18 and 19\n• sections 21 and 22.\n3 Legislation amended\nThis Act amends the Veterinary Practice Act 2018 and the Veterinary\nPractice Regulation 2018.\n4 Legislation repealed\nThe Veterinary Practice (Professional Bodies) Declaration 2018\n(DI2018-298) is repealed.\n\nVeterinary Practice Act 2018 Part 2\nSection 5\nA2025-20 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 page 3\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 2 Veterinary Practice Act 2018\n5 Objects of Act\nSection 6 (e) and (f)\nsubstitute\n(e) consumers of veterinary services—\n(i) are well informed about the competencies required of\nveterinary practitioners; and\n(ii) have confidence in accessing veterinary services from\nveterinary practitioners;\n(f) the protection of the health and welfare of people.\n6 Qualification for general or non-practising registration\nSection 28, note\nomit\n7 Removal of veterinary practitioner from register\nSection 32 (2) (c)\nomit\n8 Considerations before making occupational discipline\norders—suspension or cancellation of registration\nSection 66 (2) (a)\nafter\nhas contravened\ninsert\nthis Act or\n\nPart 2 Veterinary Practice Act 2018\nSection 9\npage 4 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 A2025-20\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n9 Interaction with commission\nSection 70 (4) (f)\nomit\nreport\nsubstitute\ncomplaint\n10 Board—functions\nSection 91 (1)\nsubstitute\n(1) The board has the following functions:\n(a) registering veterinary practitioners and veterinary premises;\n(b) ensuring the professional development of veterinary\npractitioners, including by determining requirements for\ncontinuing professional development of veterinary practitioners;\n(c) approving educational and training courses related to\nprofessional qualifications for veterinary practitioners;\n(d) developing codes of professional conduct for veterinary\npractitioners;\n(e) setting standards for premises;\n(f) cooperating with other jurisdictions in Australia and New\nZealand to further a common and harmonious approach to the\nadministration of legislation relating to veterinary practitioners;\n(g) giving general advice to consumers of veterinary services in\nrelation to the ethics and standards of professional competence\ngenerally expected of veterinary practitioners;\n(h) giving advice to the Minister in relation to any other matter\nrelated to the administration of this Act;\n\nVeterinary Practice Act 2018 Part 2\nSection 11\nA2025-20 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 page 5\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n(i) liaising with, and if the board considers it appropriate, becoming\na member of, professional organisations concerned with\nveterinary science;\n(j) investigating complaints against veterinary practitioners;\n(k) conducting, on the board’s own initiative, investigations of\nveterinary practitioners;\n(l) giving information to the veterinary profession relating to\ncontinuing education issues, developments in the field of\nveterinary science and disciplinary matters;\n(m) taking disciplinary action against veterinary practitioners;\n(n) enforcing this Act, including taking proceedings for offences\nagainst this Act.\n11 Annual general meeting of veterinary profession\nSection 92 (2)\nomit\n, other than a veterinary practitioner who has deemed registration\nunder part 4 (Recognition of veterinary practitioners from other\njurisdictions),\n12 Consultation about appointment to board\nNew section 96 (4) and (5)\ninsert\n(4) The Minister may declare an entity to be a professional body for\nsubsection (2).\n(5) A declaration is a disallowable instrument.\n\nPart 2 Veterinary Practice Act 2018\nSection 13\npage 6 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 A2025-20\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n13 Declared professional bodies\nSection 143\nomit\n14 Regulation-making power\nSection 147 (1), note\nomit\n15 Section 147 (2)\nomit\n16 Section 147 (3)\nafter\nto protect\ninsert\nanimal welfare,\n17 Dictionary, definition of declared professional body\nomit\n\nVeterinary Practice Regulation 2018 Part 3\nSection 18\nA2025-20 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 page 7\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nPart 3 Veterinary Practice\nRegulation 2018\n18 Part 3 heading\nsubstitute\nPart 3 Registration information and\nrequirements\n19 New section 8A\nin part 3, insert\n8A Required insurance—Act, s 147 (4) (c)\n(1) A registered veterinary practitioner, other than a non-practising\nveterinary practitioner, must hold a third-party indemnity insurance\npolicy with cover that is suitable for all aspects of the practitioner’s\nveterinary practice.\n(2) However, subsection (1) does not apply to a registered veterinary\npractitioner practising veterinary science in their capacity as a\ngovernment employee.\n(3) In this section:\ngovernment employee means an officer or employee of a State, the\nTerritory or the Commonwealth.\nNote State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation Act, dict, pt 1).\n\nPart 3 Veterinary Practice Regulation 2018\nSection 20\npage 8 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 A2025-20\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\n20 Notice of annual general meeting\nSection 10 (1)\nomit\n, other than a veterinary practitioner who has deemed registration\nunder the Act, part 4 (Recognition of veterinary practitioners from\nother jurisdictions),\n21 Dictionary, note 3\ninsert\n• non-practising veterinary practitioner\n• veterinary practice\n22 Dictionary, definitions of corresponding law, letter of\nprofessional standing and relevant authority\nomit\npart 3 (Registration information)\nsubstitute\npart 3 (Registration information and requirements)\n\nA2025-20 Veterinary Practice Amendment Act 2025 page 9\nAuthorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au\nEndnotes\n1 Presentation speech\nPresentation speech made in the Legislative Assembly on 18 March 2025.\n2 Notification\nNotified under the Legislation Act on 2 July 2025.\n3 Republications of amended laws\nFor the latest republication of amended laws, see www.legislation.act.gov.au.\nI certify that the above is a true copy of the Veterinary Practice Amendment\nBill 2025, which was passed by the Legislative Assembly on 26 June 2025.\nClerk of the Legislative Assembly\n© Australian Capital Territory 2025","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The amendments remain tightly focused on the original purpose of veterinary practice regulation. The changes modernise existing frameworks (adding insurance requirements, clarifying board functions) without expanding into new policy areas. The removal of 'deemed registration' references actually narrows scope slightly by cleaning up obsolete provisions."},"complexity_factors":["Short amendment Act (22 sections) with straightforward substitution and omission amendments","Minimal cross-referencing - primarily amends two existing instruments (Veterinary Practice Act 2018 and Regulation 2018)","Simple conditional logic: only one substantive exception (section 19 - insurance requirement doesn't apply to government employees)","No nested definitions or complex interpretation sections","Most amendments are mechanical (removing obsolete references to 'deemed registration', updating notes, repealing spent instruments)","Only 3 defined terms in the amending Act itself (government employee, non-practising veterinary practitioner, veterinary practice - all in section 19)","Clear structure following standard ACT legislative template"],"plain_english_summary":"This law tightens registration and regulation of veterinary practice in the ACT: vets (except government employees) must hold professional indemnity insurance, the Veterinary Practitioners Board is given clearer powers to set standards, require ongoing training, investigate and discipline, and coordinate with other jurisdictions, and consumer protections and governance rules are clarified. It affects vets, clinic owners, animal owners and the Board, strengthening accountability and public confidence."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":6,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act broadens regulatory scope and governance. It adds consumer‑confidence and human‑health protection objectives (s5), mandates professional indemnity insurance for practising vets except government employees (Reg. 8A), and shifts recognition of professional bodies from a fixed declaration instrument to a Ministerial declaration subject to disallowance (new s96(4)–(5); repeal s4; removal of definition s17). It also expands the Board’s functions and explicitly authorises regulation to protect animal welfare (s91(1); s16 amending s147(3)), changing what and who the regime regulates."},"complexity_factors":["Distributed amendments across primary Act and Regulation create cross-references to track (see s5, s91(1), new s96(4)-(5), Reg. new s8A).","New mandatory third‑party indemnity insurance for practising vets (Reg. 8A(1)–(3)) imposes ongoing compliance, coverage‑suitability judgments and exemptions for government employees (Reg. 8A(2)).","Ministerial power to declare an entity a professional body as a disallowable instrument (new s96(4)–(5)) increases administrative discretion and creates a parliamentary oversight step (disallowance) rather than a statutory list.","Repeal of the prior Veterinary Practice (Professional Bodies) Declaration 2018 and removal of the 'declared professional body' definition (s4; s17) changes legal status of recognised bodies and may create transitional or interpretive issues.","Tweaks to disciplinary and registration wording (omit/insert in s66(2)(a); omit s32(2)(c); omit note to s28) alter grounds and processes for suspension/removal, requiring careful reading to see practical effect on investigations and orders.","Terminology and duty changes—replacing 'report' with 'complaint' (s70(4)(f)) and expanding board advisory and enforcement powers (s91(1)(b)–(n))—affect complaint handling and investigatory scope.","Broadening of regulation‑making head powers to explicitly include animal welfare (amendment to s147(3) via s16) widens potential regulatory content for subordinate legislation.","Changes to annual general meeting and notice rules and the removal of exclusions tied to 'deemed registration' (s11; Reg. 10(1) omission) affect professional membership processes.","Staggered commencement dates (s2) mean phased implementation and parallel compliance regimes during transition."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act changes the Veterinary Practice Act 2018 and its Regulation to update who sets standards and what vets must do. It adds consumer-confidence and human-health protection goals, gives the Board broader functions, lets the Minister formally declare professional bodies (by disallowable instrument), repeals the old declaration, and requires practising vets (except government employees) to hold third‑party indemnity insurance. The main effects fall on registered veterinary practitioners, veterinary premises, the Board, the Minister and consumers through new insurance, governance and discipline rules."},"issue_detection":{"absurdities":[],"contradictions":[]}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025","history":"/api/acts/veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/veterinary-practice-amendment-act-2025/documents"}}