The Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development is leading a review of the veterinary legislative framework.

The veterinary workforce plays a critical role in protecting animal health and welfare, supporting primary industries, safeguarding biosecurity, and ensuring communities across NSW can access timely and appropriate veterinary care.

Veterinarians, veterinary nurses, technologists, and veterinary premises are essential to the health of companion animals, livestock and injured wildlife, and to the resilience of the agricultural sector and regional communities.

Like other jurisdictions across Australia, NSW is experiencing significant veterinary workforce pressures including workforce shortages, increasing demand for services, high levels of stress and burnout, and barriers to accessing care in regional and remote NSW.

To help address these impacts and meet the recommendations of the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Veterinary Workforce Shortage in New South Wales, the NSW Government is progressing reforms to modernise the legislative framework for the regulation and delivery of veterinary services in NSW.

For more information, go to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s website here.

Tell us what you think

You can have your say and provide feedback in two ways:

1. Complete an online survey

2. Submit a submission

The consultation period closes at 5pm on 3 July 2026.