Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I indicate that I support Senator Cormann’s amendment, despite the pleas of Senator Ludwig that it is a ‘dumb’ amendment. I think it is important that we put this in context. As Senator Siewert has quite rightly pointed out, if we take the government’s approach, once we see these amendments we could have the chaos that we saw with the changes to the dental scheme. I am still very keen that there be a resolution in terms of the intensive dental treatment for chronic illness. That still has not been resolved. I do not think we would have gone down that path if we had taken the approach of ensuring that the regulations came before us for approval.

I think there has been a trend, not just with this government but with the previous government as well, to have more and more emphasis on regulation. The Senate is not being shown details of the government’s legislative agenda because the government is relying more and more on regulation rather than legislation. On this approach, Senator Abetz has used the phrase ‘coathanger legislation’. Senator Cormann talks about an empty vessel—we do not know what is in the vessel. To use a line that Senator Joyce has used on something else: ‘You want me to get married? Well, can I have a look at the bride?’

We need some more information. Too often the devil is in the detail. These are fundamental issues in terms of what the benefits will be for certain Medicare benefits. If benefits are to be cut and consumers disadvantaged significantly, particularly in relation to cataract surgery, IVF and macular degeneration, the regulation ought to properly come back before this place for approval, because it goes to the core of the legislation. Regulations, as I understand it, have been about the implementation of legislation, the nuts and bolts, not about the substance, and the substance here is what these particular benefits and the rebate will be.

I am pleased to hear that there has been movement in relation to macular degeneration. That is welcome. I think Senator Cormann characterised the government’s changes in relation to IVF as a backflip. I do not see it in those terms. I see it as the government having listened to the various stakeholders, listened to the concerns in the community—