Jill Hall (Shortland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me great pleasure to rise and speak on the Therapeutic Goods Amendment (2009 Measures No. 3) Bill 2009 and the Therapeutic Goods (Charges) Amendment Bill 2009 that we have before us in the parliament today. As all members would know, the Rudd government is the government of health reform, be it in the total overhaul of the nation’s health system by the establishment of the National Health and Hospitals Network, be it in addressing the chronic work shortages that were addressed in The blame game report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health and Ageing which was commissioned by the previous government or be it in amending the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 in the way it is being amended here today. The primary purpose of this amendment to the Therapeutic Goods Act is to introduce a framework for the regulation of biologicals which is consistent with the regulation of therapeutic goods and medical devices under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989. This bill is part of the overall regulatory reform to the act undertaken by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the TGA. We believe that this is important legislation that positions the Therapeutic Goods Act to benefit the people of Australia. This is the fourth bill that is being considered by the parliament.

In addition to the Therapeutic Goods Act amendment that we are debating today, the Rudd government has undertaken a large number of reforms to our health system. The first I touch on is the National Health and Hospitals Network reform that was announced by the Prime Minister at the National Press Club two weeks ago. It replaces eight separate health systems with the National Health and Hospitals Network combining all the hospitals and all GP and related services. It dedicates one-third of the GST revenue that currently goes to the states and territories so that the Commonwealth can make major financial changes to meet the needs of the Australian people. It is going to put in place small local hospital networks which will benefit the people of Australia.

This legislation is the result of the Rudd government listening to the people of Australia. They are acting on the recommendations made in The Blame Game report after the inquiry on health funding. There were some significant and substantial recommendations made in that report but, unfortunately, they were not acted upon. The Rudd government has embraced that report and taken it a step further. The government has responded to The blame game report. The National Health and Hospitals Network is an answer to the report commissioned by this parliament which was never acted upon when the opposition was in government. I believe it was the current Leader of the Opposition, who was the Minister for Health and Ageing at the time, who decided that he would ignore the recommendations of the report. This system will deliver 60 per cent of funding responsibilities for public hospitals. It will take over full responsibility for GP and related services provided outside hospitals and it will pay local hospital networks directly for each service.

Coming from an electorate like Shortland, I know the difficulties that have been experienced because of the chronic workforce shortage that existed and was allowed to escalate under the previous government. For 10 years in this parliament I have raised the issue of the workforce shortage with a series of health ministers, including the current Leader of the Opposition when he was the minister for health. No matter how often I spoke in the House and no matter how often I wrote to the then minister for health, my words were ignored. There was no response. There was no humanity shown by the previous government in addressing these issues that were so important to the Australian people and to the people in the Shortland electorate. When the opposition was in government I stood in this House and shared with members how people in the Shortland electorate would have to wait three weeks to get an appointment with their doctor. I have said in this House that a person was either dead or better by the time they could obtain an appointment with their doctor.

Chapter 4 of The blame game highlights that there is a critical workforce shortage. It makes recommendations, it identifies all the issues and it emphasises how important it is to address workforce issues in relation to GPs, allied health professionals and nurses. Unfortunately, for 12 long years nothing was done—and it has been said to me that it was going to happen in the 13th year! This week we have had some fantastic announcements that will go a long way to addressing the chronic shortage of doctors. The only thing I am upset about is that that shortage will not be able to be addressed tomorrow. It takes time to train new doctors. Whereas the previous government was reluctant to invest in the health of the Australian people, the Rudd government has shown it is fully supportive of ensuring that each and every Australian can obtain the health care they need. This week the Rudd government has announced $622 million to train a record number of new doctors, which will be welcomed in the electorate of Shortland and throughout Australia; $339 million to increase GP training places to record levels; $148 million to ensure that more junior doctors can experience a career in general practice—and I know that the doctors in the Shortland electorate will be very supportive of helping those doctors gain that experience and training; and $145 million to train more specialist doctors.

In addition to the issues that have been outlined, this bill implements a new framework for the regulation of biologicals; provides that civil legal proceedings cannot lie against Commonwealth staff members and others carrying out functions under the act; increases the flexibility of arrangements for the recall of goods to enable recalls of goods where there are concerns about safety; and enables information to be sought and clarified on unpaid charges. In addition to the amendments made in this bill, the Rudd government has an outstanding record in the area of health with its introduction of training and the health reform agenda. I recommend the bill to the House.

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