Veterinary Practice Act 2026 · Updated to 1 Aug 2026 · Part 5 · Disciplinary Proceedings and Other Matters
63. Appointment of Interim Orders Committee
Feedback & supportThe Registrar, or a Complaints Assessment Committee or Disciplinary Committee, may recommend a disciplinary case to the Council for referral to an Interim Orders Committee.
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);
Subject to subsection (3), the Council may, after a recommendation is received under subsection (1) or on its own motion, and at any time after a disciplinary case is brought against a registered veterinarian under section 40(1) or 41(3), refer the disciplinary case to an Interim Orders Committee to determine whether an order should be made under section 66(2).
If the applicable period mentioned in section 42(1) or (2) has expired for a disciplinary case, the Council must not refer the disciplinary case to an Interim Orders Committee unless the appointed member mentioned in section 43 has assessed under that section that it is in the public interest to refer the disciplinary case to the Registrar.
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 and the complainant (if the complainant is not the Council) of the Council’s decision under subsection (2).
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;
The Council may appoint an Interim Orders Committee comprising 3 or more members from among the members of the Council and members of the Complaints Panel, of whom —
Interim Orders Committee
“Interim Orders Committee” means an Interim Orders Committee appointed by the Council under section 63;
at least 2 members must be members of the Council; and
subject to subsection (6), at least one member must be a member of the Complaints Panel and a registered veterinarian with at least 8 years’ experience as a veterinarian.
If, in the Council’s opinion, it is inexpedient, difficult or impracticable to appoint a registered veterinarian mentioned in subsection (5)(b), the Council may appoint to the Interim Orders Committee any other registered veterinarian from among the members of the Complaints Panel.
Complaints Panel
“Complaints Panel” means the Complaints Panel appointed by the Council under section 39;
The Council must appoint as the chairperson of the Interim Orders Committee a member of the Interim Orders Committee who is a member of the Council.
The following members of the Council or Complaints Panel must not be a member of an Interim Orders Committee for a disciplinary case:
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;
any member of the Complaints Panel who is assisting or assisted the Registrar in reviewing the disciplinary case under section 44(2)(a);
if a Complaints Assessment Committee or Disciplinary Committee has been appointed for the disciplinary case under this Part — any member of that Committee;
if the Council is the complainant in the disciplinary case — any member of the Council who participated in or influenced the 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;
an investigator appointed to investigate the disciplinary case.
To avoid doubt, a member of the Council (not being a member mentioned in subsection (8)) who participated in or influenced any other decision of the Council on a disciplinary case under this Part is not, by reason only of such participation or influence, disqualified from being a member of an Interim Orders Committee for the disciplinary case.
An Interim Orders Committee may be appointed in connection with one or more disciplinary cases or for a fixed period of time, as the Council thinks fit.