The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) has welcomed targeted measures in the 2026–27 Federal Budget, while cautioning that the Albanese Government has missed a critical opportunity to address those acute challenges impacting Australia's veterinary profession.
"Whilst the Budget shows that the Albanese Government acknowledges the importance of biosecurity threats and emergency animal diseases to Australia and its economy, it falls short in acknowledging the essential role of veterinarians in safeguarding against these risks. Vets underpin $90 billion in agricultural production, protect Australia's biosecurity and freedom from exotic diseases, and care for the 31.6 million animals that share our homes and communities. The importance of our contribution must not be overlooked," said AVA President Dr Gemma Chuck.
The AVA welcomes the $30.4 million for biosecurity and emergency animal disease (EAD) preparedness, which will support surveillance and response capacity — directly funding the systems vets rely on during disease incursions. Importantly, the Budget's $387 million joint investment in the CSIRO and the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness strengthens the nation's One Health resilience and will enable vigilant monitoring of emerging biosecurity threats such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza to help prevent potential outbreaks.
"We are pleased the Albanese Government has acted on several issues that are on the AVA's advocacy agenda. The investment in emergency animal disease preparedness and enhanced biosecurity measures are promising outcomes, which could positively impact the veterinary profession and Australia's animal health systems. This is a step towards addressing one of our critical priorities and the AVA, along with Animal Medicines Australia, has long advocated for this funding," said Dr Chuck.
Similarly, the fuel excise cut and $10 billion Fuel Security Reserve will provide direct relief to large-animal and rural vets who are among the most fuel-exposed workers in the health sector, a measure also welcomed by the National Farmers' Federation as critical for agricultural businesses under supply chain pressure. The AVA recognises the Budget's continuing commitment to a 20% reduction in student HELP debt from 2025, in addition to the higher repayment threshold of $67,000, which will provide welcome relief to Australia's cohort of veterinary students who carry some of the nation's highest student debts.
However, the AVA is deeply concerned that its core workforce priorities were not addressed. With the veterinary profession now in its 9th consecutive year of workforce shortage, the Budget did not include any dedicated investment into a veterinary workforce strategy, excluded any specific funding for HECS/HELP forgiveness schemes to attract vets to regional areas, and there was no commitment to broaden the Commonwealth Prac Payment Scheme to support rural placement for veterinary students.
"The work of veterinarians affects every single Australian. We provide essential services that support and grow regional, rural and metropolitan communities. The workforce deficit in regional and rural Australia is critical and there is an urgent need to attract and retain veterinarians to these areas. The government's lack of recognition and investment represents a missed opportunity to remedy acute workforce shortages. This will result in declining animal health and welfare outcomes, compromised biocontainment and biosecurity, and sub-standard human health outcomes," states Dr Chuck.
With two in three Australian veterinarians reporting a mental health condition, the absence of dedicated mental health funding in this Budget is very concerning. The AVA's THRIVE and Cultivating Safe Teams wellbeing programs, which provide 24/7 counselling and psychosocial safety support to the profession, remain unfunded by federal government. This poses ongoing risks to the welfare of Australia's veterinary workforce. The Budget also neglected meaningful investment in wildlife and disaster response, despite 92 per cent of vets who treat wildlife currently receiving no payment for doing so. Critically, the Budget has also failed to fund national antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance — a priority shared with Animal Medicines Australia and a cornerstone of Australia's One Health framework that enhances and protects the nation's biosecurity.
"The AVA is asking for what Australia's hardworking vets need. We will continue making our case in Canberra, including further submissions to influence the Albanese Government's Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook. A profession under pressure for nine years deserves a government that has its back, and we look forward to continuing these important conversations through committed advocacy to government," said Dr Chuck.
