Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

I think that one should look at the report and realise that the senators on that committee supported the aim behind the access card—namely, to improve the delivery of benefits and services to Australians who are in receipt of government benefits and services, which I mentioned earlier. Also, they supported the fact that the aim was to make it easier to deal with government agencies, reduce fraud and, importantly, replace 16 cards and one voucher. So from that Senate committee report we have support for the government’s aims behind the access card.

The comments that Senator Forshaw point to were made in the context of a recommendation of the Senate committee that they wanted the bill as one package instead of two tranches, just one package—and I have agreed to that. It is business as usual, and we will introduce a single package. We will refer that to the Senate committee to have a look at. In that package there will be the framework, the safeguards with appeals processes and other aspects; and there will be time for the Senate committee to look at it. That is what I have said; it is as straightforward as that.

I think that people should look at the positive aspects of the evidence given to that Senate committee. A lot of people in the community acknowledge overwhelmingly that the current technology we have with the Medicare card is way out of date. It is 23 years old, and we should move with the times. Smartcard technology, which I think Senator Lundy even endorsed, is the way to go in delivering services to make them more efficient for Australians receiving those benefits, saving money for Australian taxpayers and cutting down on fraud. All of those aims were supported by the Senate committee, and that is what we are about.

I have agreed to the main recommendation of the committee, and there has been ongoing consultation. I have started seeing stakeholders in relation to the access card and will be seeing them over the next two to three weeks and talking to them individually. As well as that, Professor Fels will carry on his work in relation to the discussion  papers that he and his committee are working on. They will be released for discussion. I point out to the Senate and those listening that the first tranche of bills did have an exposure draft, which was released for discussion, as well as previous discussion papers. This consultation process is ongoing, and there will be a single package which we will bring back to the parliament for scrutiny.