Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs), the animal health counterparts to Chief Medical Officers, are the key advisors to the Australian Government on all matters relating to the maintenance and improvement of Australia’s animal health and support systems. It is the highest ranking government role in the veterinary industry and carries with it much responsibility and esteem. Many CVOs take this immense responsibility of caring for all the nations' animals on and never quite step away from the moral duty completely. 

It is this sense of duty towards caring for the health of our country, our people, and our animals that have spurred a group of 27 former CVOs and senior government veterinarians to continue offering their advice and counsel to the highest office of government, our Prime Minister Scott Morrison. On the back of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report, the letter urges the Prime Minister to heed the professional advise and adopt a responsible target for the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP26). Represented by Dr Ron Glanville (former CVO Queensland), the letter was also forwarded to the leaders of Australia’s other major political parties and all jurisdictions as we believe climate should not be a partisan issue. 

Read the letter here.