Insights Sectors: Veterinary

October is Cyber Security Awareness Month (CSAM). CSAM is an annual reminder for Australians to stay safe online and protect your online information and assets. The theme for CSAM 2023 is ‘be cyber aware – don’t compromise’. CSAM is an opportunity for businesses to review their understanding of ‘cyber security’ as a concept while continuing […]

The Australian privacy landscape is changing. In December 2022, amendments came into force to amend the Privacy Act 1998 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) to increase the maximum penalties related to serious and repeated breaches of the Australian Privacy Principles (the APPs) and the Notifiable Data Breaches Scheme. As a result of these amendments, the maximum […]

Meridian is increasingly receiving enquiries from both health practitioners and service providers seeking advice regarding negative reviews placed online by members of the public. Sometimes the reviews are thought to be unfair and unreasonable, and sometimes they cross over the line and are abusive and defamatory. With the ever increasing reliance on digital marketing and […]

Key takeaways On 18 June 2022, the Veterinary Practice Act 2021 (Act) commenced and the newly appointed members of the Veterinary Practice Board (Board) started their term of office. The Act provides for the regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine in Western Australia and seeks to facilitate the regulation of the practice of veterinary […]

The Veterinary Practice Bill 2021 (WA) (Bill) had its third reading in the legislative council on 2 September 2021. The Bill will repeal the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1960 (Current Act) and the Veterinary Surgeons Regulations 1979 (Current Regulations). The Bill introduces new regulations that align with the proposed regulatory framework. However, the regulations are not […]

We published an article outlining the collective bargaining class exemption for small to medium businesses approved by the ACCC earlier this year. This exemption came into effect on 3 June 2021 and allows eligible small and medium businesses to engage in collective bargaining with their suppliers without being in breach of the Competition and Consumer […]

Small and medium businesses will have the ability to collectively bargain with their suppliers once the first ever class exemption granted by the ACCC commences this month. Background and the ACCC’s class exemption power Since November 2017, the ACCC has had the power to make class exemptions for certain types of conduct which may otherwise […]

An increasingly litigious society and ever-greater humanisation of pets means vets must be vigilant to avoid legal action. This article was written by Chris Sheedy and republished with permission from Vet Practice Magazine, June 2017. Whether a vet’s patient is a million-dollar racehorse, a $250,000 stud bull, a $100,000 exotic bird or a $25 pet dog, […]

Aim for a pain free goodbye: Meridian Lawyers acts for vets in the sale and purchase of veterinary practices. Here is a brief overview of the legal process, together with tips on how to make the process as pain free as possible. Step 1: Gather information about your practice The vet selling the business (vendor) will be expected […]

Vet Practice magazine recently interviewed Georgina Odell, Senior Associate at Meridian Lawyers – read her insights into how to succeed in a business partnership in the article “Power couple”. Thinking of going into partnership with a colleague? Vet Practice magazine’s writer Charmaine Teoh shares some legal and financial issues to consider before opening the doors to your business. Republished […]

Practitioners will be aware of biosecurity guidelines published by the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA). In response to this, some AVA members raised concerns about the legal consequences and whether this created additional legal risk. It is fair to say that the thinking of defence lawyers and insurers has changed dramatically over the past 10 to […]