GEORGINA BEYER (Labour): What a pleasure it is to take a call in the second reading of the Veterinarians Bill. Can I say that the contribution from the member who just resumed his seat was most enlightening. I also thank the Primary Production Committee for the work it did. Obviously, the committee members got right into the bill. They came out with plastic gloves, put them on, and probed deeply into the matters to do with veterinarians bills—treated the bill like a cow, really.

It is always timely to remind people of the key points of this bill. The bill repeals and replaces the Veterinarians Act 1994. The aim is to provide the veterinary profession with a more modern and flexible governance structure, comparable to other professions, such as the medical profession. The key changes from the Veterinarians Act are around qualification requirements and greater Veterinary Council powers when dealing with disciplinary and competency matters.

The Veterinary Council and the New Zealand Veterinary Association, which is the professional body that represents all veterinarians, support the bill’s objectives, as it will assist the Veterinary Council in discharging its statutory obligations. With that, I commend the bill to the House.