Veterinary Practitioners' Registration Board of Victoria - Statement of Expectations

Dear Dr Nichol,

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT OF EXPECTATIONS FOR THE VETERINARY PRACTITIONERS REGISTRATION BOARD OF VICTORIA

I am pleased to provide you with my Statement of Expectations for the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria.  This Statement applies from the date of receipt until the end of this Parliamentary term, or until otherwise amended. 

As Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, I am responsible for administering the Veterinary Practice Act 1997.  This Statement should be read within the context of the objectives, obligations and functions outlined in the legislation as amended. 

This Statement is important to the discharge of my Ministerial portfolio responsibilities.
It sets out my priorities for the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria, drawing on relevant principles from Victoria’s Improving Governance of Regulators: Principles and Guidelines.

Government policy and objectives

I expect the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria to continue to protect the public and support the maintenance of veterinary practice standards in Victoria through the registration of, and investigation of the professional conduct and fitness to practise of, veterinary practitioners.

In discharging your statutory duties, I also expect you to continue to apply the minimum level of regulatory intervention necessary to meet your obligations under the Act and encourage you to continue to look for opportunities to reduce regulatory burden.

Stakeholder relationships and engagement

I recognise the importance of your stakeholders, including the veterinary profession, accredited university veterinary schools, primary producers, the Victorian public, the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Incorporated, the Australian Veterinary Association Ltd, and State and Commonwealth agencies. I expect that you will continue to work constructively with these stakeholders whilst fulfilling your obligations under the Act in an independent, transparent and consistent manner.

I expect you to keep me advised of existing and emerging issues. I acknowledge the mutual benefit of the regular exchange of information and views related to the discharge of your regulatory role.  I also expect that the Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria and my department will continue to work closely together.

Coordination of regulatory activities

The Veterinary Practitioners Registration Board of Victoria is a member of the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council Incorporated, and cooperates with relevant State and Commonwealth agencies as it discharges its regulatory functions.  Through this participation and cooperation, I expect the Board to continue to promote good regulatory practice, reduce duplication and foster consistent outcomes for the veterinary profession and the Victorian public.

Transparency and accountability

I recognise the strength of the corporate governance arrangements that you have in place, including a system of reporting directly to Parliament through your annual report. To this end, I expect that this Statement of Expectations will be incorporated into your ongoing corporate planning processes and that key output and outcome performance indicators are published in your annual report.

I look forward to receiving your response to this Statement of Expectations.  I understand your response will be published alongside this Statement on the Department of Primary Industries website.

Yours sincerely

Peter Walsh MLA
Minister for Agriculture and Food Security