Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

There might be a pointer in Senator Scullion’s response, but Senator Fielding should understand that the amendment he is seeking to progress would prevent necessary filing and administration tasks such as the secure storage of documents. It would be administratively unworkable for the one individual who receives the document to keep possession of it permanently. There is the question of what would happen if that person then went on sick leave, took long-service leave or shifted employment. The amendment would also require trained medical practitioners to perform routine administrative tasks which are best undertaken by trained auditors. We would be giving the administrative tasks that auditors do—and are well trained to do—to doctors. It would take up a significant amount of their time for little gain. We do not want our medical workforce performing administrative tasks when they could be providing health services or sharing their expertise.

I understand that Senator Fielding has likened this to the pathology position. I have a recollection of that issue; I dealt with it at that time. I am not sure the advisors are familiar with it. When you bring on a bill to be debated with little or no notice, you cannot expect all of the relevant advisors to be here, able to answer all of your questions and deal with your amendments in the comprehensive way they should be. It would be absurd to expect that. This bill was not in the range of bills we would have ordinarily dealt with this side of Christmas.