Shayne Neumann (Blair, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make an amendment to this private members' motion.

Leave granted.

I move:

That the motion be amended to read—

"That this House:

(1) notes the concerns of key stakeholders in relation to the price reduction of chemotherapy drug Docetaxel and its potential broader impact on the treatment of cancer patients;

(2) notes that the Government:

(a) has announced a review into arrangements for funding chemotherapy services;

(b) is providing $29.7 million in the 2013-14 Budget to pay providers an additional $60 for each chemotherapy infusion on an interim basis for six months, to cover the review period between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2013, in addition to current fees of $76.37; and

(c) demonstrated it was committed to providing drugs for cancer patients, having added 30 new drugs to treat 15 different cancers at an additional cost of $1.3 billion to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme since 2007; and

(3) welcomes the policy of Accelerated and Expanded Price Disclosure of items on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme"

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Madam Deputy Speaker, I bring your attention to the state of the House.

(Quorum formed)

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

The immediate question is that the amendment be agreed to.

A division having been called and the bells having been rung—

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The division has been called off with the agreement of the Leader of the House and the Manager of Opposition Business. The Leader of the House has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Can I indicate to the House that it is my strong view and consistent view that where amendments are moved to Private Members' Business it is appropriate that members have an opportunity to consider those amendments. Hence, I will be moving that this debate be adjourned for further consideration under Private Members' Business in the parliament. I think this is—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

in the new paradigm?

Honourable members interjecting—

I am trying to help.

Ms Anna Burke (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! This is a serious matter and I am not going to have it interfered with. The Leader of the House has the call.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Speaker. This is a serious matter. Private Members' Business under previous parliaments would not have been voted on. There were debates but then they were not determined. Because we are now dealing with outcomes and votes, it is appropriate that members, including the mover of the original motion, who I understand is the member for Dickson, have an opportunity to see amendments that are for him. I point out to the Manager of Opposition Business that I expect this to be a principle that is applied across the board because I do think this is an important principle.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On indulgence—Madam Speaker, the members of the coalition are aware of the situation. We are obviously deciding Private Members' Business as we do on most Thursdays. The member for Dickson had a matter of Private Members' Business that was being voted on today. The parliamentary secretary, without notice or discussion with the private member, moved an amendment to that. Usually, if such an amendment is being moved, there is an amicable discussion across the chamber and a matter is worked out. I support and thank the Leader of the House—who would have won this division if it had been held, obviously—for ensuring that the amendment that the parliamentary secretary is now moving to the member for Dickson's motion will be properly debated, and should it be debated next week, then we will be able to return next Thursday and vote on it then. We will probably get the same result, but at least a proper debate will have been held.

Debate adjourned.