New chief veterinary officer appointed

Minister for Agriculture and Food Terry Redman today announced long-serving departmental veterinarian Tony Higgs had been appointed Western Australia's new chief veterinary officer.

Dr Higgs replaces Peter Buckman, who retired from the position last month.

Mr Redman said Dr Higgs would be responsible for emergency and general animal disease control, which required a high level of understanding of animal health from a State, national and international perspective.

"Dr Higgs is a senior department veterinarian with 26 years experience, including key roles managing animal disease outbreaks in Australia and overseas," he said.

"As a representative of the department, Dr Higgs led an infected premises team in the early stages of the devastating foot and mouth disease outbreak in the United Kingdom in 2001.

"He also travelled to Eritrea to oversee the receival and discharge of sheep from the troubled Cormo Express sheep carrier in 2003; and assisted with New South Wales state disease control operations for equine influenza in 2007."

His achievements in WA have included managing the department's animal welfare and footrot eradication programs; live export research; contributing to the bovine tuberculosis eradication campaign in the Kimberley, and key roles as district veterinary officer in Narrogin and South Coast regional protection manager, in addition to private practice experience.

Dr Higgs also held the presidency of the epidemiology chapter of the Australian College of Veterinary Scientists in 1999-2000 and was head examiner for epidemiology from 2002 to 2004.

Minister's office  - 9213 6700