Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Ageing, Disabilities and Carers) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to concur with Senator Allison’s comment about the enormity of this package of amendments to what are the largest changes to private health insurance administration in Australia. I acknowledge and accept that there will be times when amendments are required between the introduction of legislation and its final carriage, but we have received 104 amendments that are highly technical in nature, with limited time to pursue them closely and with limited time to be able to consult with the community about their impact. With bills of this nature, because they are so significant, it is important that there is consultation with the community at each step, in this case with the private health insurance industry, the hospital sector, doctors themselves and, hopefully, those health consumers that may be impacted.

The minister has said that this is an orderly process. The minister may not know that on the day of the hearing into this huge change to the way in which we administer private health, we received a very large document which in fact was the delegated legislation. It was ludicrous to think that we might be looking at that legislation whilst we were conducting the inquiry and comprehending what it included, and that was difficult for all members of the committee.

I can indicate that Labor will support all amendments. We do not intend to break them into sections. I concur with what Senator Allison said about moving them en bloc. Hopefully the amendments are going to do what has been indicated. It is unfortunate though that we are hoping that something will happen whilst we are passing amendments to a very large piece of legislation.

Question agreed to.