The Minns Labor Government is seeking community feedback on proposed reforms to the state’s veterinary framework designed to modernise veterinary services and better support the people who care for our animals and the communities that rely on them.
The proposed changes recognise the vital role veterinarians play in animal welfare, primary production and the many industries that depend on healthy animals across the state.
The Veterinary Services Bill 2026, which will be introduced to Parliament later this year, will provide a clearer framework for mobile and telehealth veterinary services, streamline complaints and investigation processes, and, for the first time, establish a regulatory framework for veterinary nurses and technologists.
A consultation paper has today been released on the Have Your Say and NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website, with submissions closing 3 July 2026.
Feedback will help inform the development of improvements to the legislative framework for veterinary services, including to:
- increase workforce capacity and capability, by introducing a registration scheme for veterinary nurses and technologists in NSW that recognises their critical contribution to the veterinary sector;
- improve access to services, particularly in regional and remote areas by providing a clear licencing pathway for mobile and telehealth services in the delivery of veterinary care;
- better protect the mental health and wellbeing of the veterinary workforce, including through a modern, fair and supportive framework for managing complaints and investigations; and
- deliver transparent, risk-based and contemporary regulation through a modern Veterinary Services Board that regulates and supports the sector as a whole.
The reforms are aimed at strengthening a system that safeguards animal health and welfare and are built on extensive analysis and feedback, including evidence provided to the Parliamentary Inquiry into Veterinary Workforce Shortages in NSW, and delivers on all of the Inquiry’s recommendations to improve the regulatory framework.
The proposed Bill will respond directly to growing pressures in the sector, including high levels of stress and burnout, workforce shortages, and limited access to veterinary care in regional and remote NSW.
Separately the Minns Government has made substantial progress on other recommendations of the Inquiry that focus on the attraction and retention of veterinarians and improving access to veterinary care, with work underway including:
- expanding The Welcome Experience program resulting in 39 veterinarians and vet nurses relocated to regional areas across the state to date
- investing in improved mental health support for vets, and educational materials for vets and pet owners
- providing subsidised regional veterinary care through the Animal Welfare League NSW
- funding to enable more than 90 scholarships for veterinary students to study in regional NSW, and
- developing incentives to attract and retain new District Veterinarians within Local Land Services who provide essential on the ground expertise to protect livestock, support farmers, and respond to disease risks.
To view the consultation paper and provide feedback, visit the Have Your Say website at https://www.haveyoursay.nsw.gov.au/veterinary-practice-regulatory-framework.
For more information and to stay up to date on the reforms, visit the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development website at https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/veterinary-practice-regulatory-framework
Minister for Agriculture and Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty said:
“Modernising the Veterinary Practice Act is long overdue and an important step in supporting NSW’s veterinary profession and the communities that rely on it.
“This is about doing things better and delivering improved conditions for vets and vet services across the State.
“Veterinarians play a vital role not only in caring for animals, but also in protecting our agricultural industries, maintaining food safety, supporting animal welfare and strengthening our preparedness for emergency animal disease outbreaks.
Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW President, Dr Magdoline Awad said:
“Pet ownership in Australia has grown by around 35% over the past decade, with more than 3.4 million registered dogs and cats in NSW and seven in 10 households having a pet.
“At the same time, veterinary services play a critical role beyond companion animals – supporting livestock health and productivity, safeguarding wildlife, and underpinning Australia’s strong biosecurity and trade systems.
“Without a modern regulatory framework, workforce pressures will continue to impact service availability – particularly in regional areas where communities and industries rely heavily on veterinary expertise.
“These reforms reflect what the profession has been saying for years. Seeing the inquiry recommendations translated into action is both reassuring and welcomed and represents an important step toward improving access to services and supporting a sustainable veterinary workforce across NSW.”
Sophie’s Legacy Co-Founder, Garry Putland said:
“Veterinary professionals experience some of the highest rates of stress and psychological distress of any profession. Embedding mental health and wellbeing into the regulatory framework is a critical and overdue shift that puts people at the centre of reform”.
Veterinary Nurses Council of Australia President, Asha Yeoman said:
“Recognising and regulating the crucial role of veterinary nurses and technologists strengthens the entire healthcare team – enhancing collaboration, expanding workforce capacity, and alleviating pressure on veterinarians. It’s a practical reform that supports wellbeing, improves access to care, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for animals and their owners.”
Australian Veterinary Association (NSW Division President), Dr Amy Lee said:
“The proposed reforms reflect positive steps being taken by the NSW Government to strengthen the state’s veterinary sector. The Australian Veterinary Association welcomes measures that deliver greater support for the mental health and wellbeing of veterinary professionals, along with improvements in registration and regulation that strengthen the delivery of animal welfare across the state.”