Pictured are members voting on a motion at last year’s NSW Farmers Association Annual Conference.
The Bogan Gate Branch, NSW Farmers Association, presented one of the first motions to be voted on at the Annual Conference at Rosehill Tuesday 21 July.
The Motion, which was moved by Ron Umbers, asked for NSW Farmers to advocate for amendments to the Veterinary Practice Act 2003 (NSW) to allow registered Veterinary Practitioners to conduct Telehealth consultations. This including for S4 drug compliance and prescribing, where initial check has occurred and a bona fide Veterinary – Client – patient relationship has been established, subject to existing professional, animal welfare and regulatory safeguards.
As it currently stands, a farmer must transport a lamb, or representative animal of their commercial operation, to a Vet surgery to prove they are a person involved with commercial animal operations. This requirement must be repeated every year even if the Vet has a long-term business relationship with the farmer and they are fully aware of their commercial animal production status. The process is cumbersome, time consuming and very stressful for the animal (and farmer) involved.
Bogan Gate branch’s Policy submission aims to streamline the process while still maintaining security with regards to the necessary veterinary products that farmers need to use in their operations.
The vote sailed through to become NSW Farmers Policy which will now be followed up by the advocacy team, who will approach the relevant authorities to achieve this resolution.
Gavin Tom, Region 5 Executive Councillor said, “This is a great example of how NSW Farmers can improve on modern farm practice which can involve plenty of red tape.
“As Region 5 Executive Councilor I was very pleased to vote for this, along with the vast majority of delegates.
“Being a member of NSW Farmers can give you a say in forming and improving policy, whether it be state, federal or local government along with the many other organisations we have to deal with on a daily basis.
By Gavin Tom
Region 5 Executive Councillor, Parkes/Forbes Branch