Veterinary Practice Act 2026 · Updated to 1 Aug 2026 · Part 5 · Disciplinary Proceedings and Other Matters
46. Decision of Council after recommendation by Registrar
Feedback & supportAfter receiving the findings and recommendation of the Registrar on a disciplinary case against a registered veterinarian, the Council may —
Registrar
“Registrar” means the Registrar of the Council appointed under section 14(1), and (except for section 4(2)(c) or 7(1)(j)) includes a Deputy Registrar appointed under section 14(2);
accept the recommendation and take the recommended action; or
take any other action mentioned in section 45.
For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), a reference to a finding or belief of the Registrar in section 45 is a reference to a finding or belief of the Council.
If the Council decides to take the action mentioned in section 45(c)(ii), but the Council and the registered veterinarian are unable to agree on the course of action to be taken under section 38(2), the Council must refer the matter to a Complaints Assessment Committee for an inquiry.
registered veterinarian
“registered veterinarian” means an individual who is registered under this Act as —(a)a veterinarian with full registration;(b)a veterinarian with restricted registration; or(c)a specialist;
If the disciplinary case is referred to a Complaints Assessment Committee or Disciplinary Committee for an inquiry or a formal inquiry (as the case may be) under subsection (1) or (3) —
disciplinary case
“disciplinary case” means a complaint made against, or any information provided about, a registered veterinarian under Part 5, and, if an interim suspension order is made against the registered veterinarian in relation to the complaint or information, includes any contravention or suspected contravention of the interim suspension order or any term specified for the interim suspension order;
the Registrar must, as soon as practicable, give written notice to the registered veterinarian of the referral; and
the Registrar must provide the registered veterinarian with a copy of —
the complaint or information (as the case may be) to which the disciplinary case relates; and
any statutory declaration (if any) made in support of the disciplinary case.
The following members of the Council must not participate in or influence the decision of the Council under subsection (1):
the Registrar;
if the disciplinary case is brought after the expiry of the applicable period mentioned in section 42(1) or (2) — the appointed member mentioned in section 43 for the disciplinary case;
if the Council is the complainant in the disciplinary case — any member of the Council who participated in or influenced the Council’s decision to bring the disciplinary case under section 41(3);
if the Council makes a referral, takes an action or gives a direction mentioned in section 75(1) for the continuation of a disciplinary case despite the withdrawal of the disciplinary case — any member of the Council who participated in or influenced the Council’s decision to make the referral, take the action or give the direction;
any member of an Interim Orders Committee that inquired into or reviewed, or is inquiring into or reviewing, the disciplinary case.
To avoid doubt, a member of the Council (not being a member mentioned in subsection (5)) who participated in or influenced any other decision of the Council on the disciplinary case under this Part is not, by reason only of such participation or influence, disqualified from participating in or influencing the Council’s decision under subsection (1).