Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for his answer. I note that the minister referred to the MBS item. What about the hotline? How does the government intend to ensure that the services provided through the hotline are non-directive? I note from the minister’s answer that one of the arguments the government has put forward is the exclusion of those health professionals who just happen to work in abortion clinics who already provide pregnancy counselling services. Apart from excluding those professionals—psychologists, social workers and clinical psychologists—what is the government’s plan to ensure that this process is accredited and regulated and that non-directive services are actually genuinely provided, given that the government claims that the services are non-directive already but yet we have complaints that the government is indeed well aware of?