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January 31, 2022

Queensland’s veterinary services sector is teetering on the brink of collapse as the Queensland Government refuses to heed industry-led calls for a COVID-19 restrictions reprieve, Katter’s Australian Party Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter has said.

Two weeks ago the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) issued a nation-wide appeal to all State Governments, warning that the Omicron outbreak and associated regulations were impacting the ability of vet clinics to operate.

In the AVA’s press release, AVA Head of Veterinary and Public Affairs Dr Cristy Secombe called for governments to list vet sector employees as “critically essential workers” – this would enable up to of a quarter of the industry’s asymptomatic workforce currently isolating after being identified as close contacts to return to work.

“To allow veterinarians to provide veterinary care for all animals including pets, we implore the State Governments to urgently modify public health orders and reflect the guidance provided by National Cabinet in recognition that all veterinary services are highly impacted,” Dr Secombe said.

“COVID-19 has worsened the pre-existing skills shortage within the veterinary profession and it’s now getting to the point that some small animal emergencies cannot be treated.”

Most other states and territories have amended their close contact criteria to make exemptions for the vet sector but, to date, Queensland has refused.

It has listed miners, media and TV professionals and public transport operators, but not vets.[1]

Mr Katter last week wrote to the Health and Agricultural Ministers to ask for urgent intervention so vets could replenish their staff levels and remain open.

“I write to you on behalf the State’s veterinary services sector which is currently crippled and struggling to cope under current COVID-19 close contact regulations, with vets and their support staff reporting extreme distress, burn-out and staff shortages that are rendering their practices inoperable and resulting in companion animals in need of emergency care being turned away,” the Traeger MP wrote.

“The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA), on behalf of its Queensland members, is requesting that the Queensland Government and the Chief Health Officer urgently move to amend current “critically essential criteria” to encompass all veterinarian practices and their staff. This would enable these essential medical professionals, when identified as asymptomatic close contacts, to be able to continue to work.

“This change would be in line with National Cabinet guidelines, and would enable veterinary teams to have the crucial flexibility needed to manage close contacts to ensure veterinary services can be delivered. It would mimic a move made by Victoria, which late last week modified their public orders to say that all people working in animal services (health, husbandry and welfare) may be exempt from quarantine requirements in order to attend work so long as a number of conditions are met.

“The AVA has surveyed its members throughout the current wave of the pandemic. In the states most affected by the Omicron variant, it found 87 per cent of veterinary practices have experienced staff shortages due to COVID-19 with 25 per cent having had to close for periods as a result and a further 31 per cent having to reduce hours. In Queensland, this situation is making it increasingly difficult for animal owners to get veterinary appointments for their pets and placing vets and their support staff under incredible stress.

“Vets are medical professionals and are highly trained in infection control. They are well-positioned to be able to manage the risk associated with asymptomatic close contacts of COVID-19 and I implore the Government to make this criteria change urgently.”

Mr Katter, and the AVA, have not yet received a response from the Palaszczuk Labor Government Ministers.

[1] https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/industry-and-businesses/critically-essential-worker-requirements