FARMERS have been urged to review new New South Wales veterinary workforce and service legislation introduced to the NSW Parliament last week.

Prominent NSW veterinarian, researcher, farmer and NSW Farmers member Dr Robyn Alders has welcomed the proposed reforms in the Minns Labor Government’s Veterinary Services Bill 2026 to the Parliament of NSW.

However, she has urged farmers to work through their local members if they want changes to the bill before it is passed.

The government said the bill aims to modernise the state’s veterinary regulatory framework, including giving professional recognition of veterinary nurses and technicians for the first time.

The government said it is addressing the recommendations made by the 2024 parliamentary inquiry into the NSW veterinary workforce by delivering legislative reforms that kickstart solutions to attract new workers and retain experienced professionals, plus extend service delivery.

For the first time, the bill acknowledges the important role of mobile vet clinics in regional NSW and sets up a regulatory process for the provision of telehealth services. It also sets clearer rules for how veterinary services are delivered, who can provide them and how they are regulated. In practical terms, the bill will:

Register veterinary nurses and approved persons who provide veterinary services, clarifying roles, responsibilities and professional standards

Licenses all veterinary service businesses, including veterinary practices and veterinary hospitals,  and allied animal care businesses

Allows services to be provided through mobile services and telehealth

Strengthen oversight of veterinary professionals, businesses and introduce a risk-based complaints system that is fairer and more flexible for veterinarians and applicants

Establish a modern Veterinary Services Board, that includes a veterinary nurse representative, with clearer powers to regulate the sector.

Dr Robyn Alders said all of the reforms were good, with regulation good for clients and the veterinary profession. Recognising the important role of veterinary nurses and technicians that provide certain services is “a positive” and consistent with the World Organisation for Animal Health vet workforce definition.

Dr Alders said any new telehealth services need to be informed by the background of the vets providing information to farmers, ensuring the advisers have a background in livestock production and are familiar with different systems. She said the definition of telehealth in the bill is broad, and specifics will likely be addressed through reulations and standards.

“So encouraging livestock producers to engage with their local vet and local MP remains important in order to influence the fine detail.”

Dr Alders said the number of large animal vets with rural experience and a background or training in exotic disease incursion is a challenge in the state and the bill will address some of the state’s vet workforce issues.

“It’s good that they are recognising the importance of mobile vet clinics.”

Does the bill address the vet availability for disease incursions?

But Dr Alders said now was the time for industry to make its points about what is important in veterinary services before the bill was passed.

“In addition to regulation there does need to be an understanding of the economic foundation on which vets rely when they’re working in rural areas.

“After they’ve done all this I think they still need to go back, they need to look at real numbers — who is out there?

“In addition to having private practitioners, are there district (government) vets, are their positions filled in every place, and do they need to consider some other way.”

Dr Alders said queried whether registering vet service businesses meant that might be able to perform some of the regulatory functions if there were insufficient government vets.

“That’s where I’m not clear about what that particular wording means.

Dr Alders said in areas where there are insufficient vets – district vets or private practitioners – some thought should be given to a retainer system to ensure vets were available to be quickly involved in disease incursion events.

“Amongst everything that producers and farmers have to do, this would be the time, particularly through their representative organisations to make these points, because in the long run if our state or the country has to deal with an incursion of Foot and Mouth Disease, the overall cost to the country is significant.

“If we have a system that’s going to mean that we have a better prepared and ready-to-go workforce to deal with that (incursion), it is more likely that we will be able to eradicate it  rather than moving to vaccination.”

Dr Alders said it is excellent that the Veterinary Services Bill 2026 talks about the importance of the veterinary profession.

“But I don’t see how it actually addresses the reasons why we have so few (vets) in rural areas.

“The idea of recognising a broader workforce of vet nurses and technicians is positive, but I don’t actually see yet, even for those who are still there, how are they going to stay there,” she said.

She said the veterinary profession is a safeguard against disease incursion for an incredibly important domestic and export industry, yet the NSW government is reducing its animal health officer workforce.

Legislation is designed to rebuild veterinary services

The Minns Government said the legislative reforms are designed to rebuild the essential veterinary services pet owners and farmers need plus address longstanding workforce issues impacting vets and their support workers. The government’s consultation received 236 responses from the veterinary profession, animal welfare organisations, and the community, with 81 percent supporting the reforms.

Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said the Minns Government’s bill better supports the veterinarians, veterinary nurses and technicians who play a critical role in protecting animal health, caring for pets and livestock, and safeguarding our biosecurity systems.

“These changes support a sustainable veterinary profession and strong animal welfare outcomes.

“These reforms are recognising the important contribution of veterinary nurses and technologists, who for too long have not been appropriately recognised for their professional contribution,” she said.

Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW president, Dr Magdoline Awad said the introduction of the bill is a welcome and important milestone in modernising the veterinary regulatory framework for NSW.

“The strong support within the profession for these changes was highlighted by the overwhelmingly positive response to the consultation on the reforms.

“The introduction of this Bill demonstrates a commitment to action and represents a significant step towards improving access to services and supporting a sustainable veterinary workforce across NSW.”

Australian Veterinary Association NSW division president Dr Amy Lee said the introduction of the bill shows the positive commitment being taken by the NSW Government to strengthen the veterinary profession.

“The Australian Veterinary Association welcomes the step forward NSW has taken to support the mental health and wellbeing of the profession, along with strengthening the delivery of veterinary care across the state.”

Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia president Asha Yeoman said the introduction of registration for veterinary nurses and technologists is a significant step forward for the profession.

“It recognises the skills, training and expertise veterinary nurses and technologists bring to animal care every day, while ensuring consistent professional standards across the sector.

“By recognising veterinary nurses and technologists as key members of the veterinary workforce, the government is helping build a stronger, more sustainable profession for the future.”