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

I table two supplementary explanatory memoranda relating to the government amendments to the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009 and the Midwife Professional Indemnity (Commonwealth Contribution) Scheme Bill 2009. The memoranda were circulated in the chamber on 16 November 2009. I seek leave to move government amendments (1) to (4) together on sheet CN232 to the Health Legislation Amendment (Midwives and Nurse Practitioners) Bill 2009.

Leave granted.

I move:

(1)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 10), omit paragraph (b) of the definition of participating midwife, substitute:

             (b)    otherwise—an eligible midwife;

so far as the eligible midwife renders a service in a collaborative arrangement or collaborative arrangements of a kind or kinds specified in the regulations, with one or more medical practitioners of a kind or kinds specified in the regulations, for the purposes of this definition.

(2)    Schedule 1, item 6, page 4 (line 18), omit paragraph (b) of the definition of participating nurse practitioner, substitute:

             (b)    otherwise—an eligible nurse practitioner;

so far as the eligible nurse practitioner renders a service in a collaborative arrangement or collaborative arrangements of a kind or kinds specified in the regulations, with one or more medical practitioners of a kind or kinds specified in the regulations, for the purposes of this definition.

(3)    Schedule 1, item 70, page 22 (line 2), at the end of the definition of authorised midwife, add “, so far as the eligible midwife provides midwifery treatment in a collaborative arrangement or collaborative arrangements of a kind or kinds specified in a legislative instrument made by the Minister for the purposes of this definition, with one or more medical practitioners of a kind or kinds specified in the legislative instrument”.

(4)    Schedule 1, item 71, page 22 (line 6), at the end of the definition of authorised nurse practitioner, add “, so far as the eligible nurse practitioner provides nurse practitioner treatment in a collaborative arrangement or collaborative arrangements of a kind or kinds specified in a legislative instrument made by the Minister for the purposes of this definition, with one or more medical practitioners of a kind or kinds specified in the legislative instrument”.

The government has, as I have indicated, always been clear about the fact that these arrangements will need to be provided collaboratively with other health professionals. The government continues to work cooperatively with the professions on the details of the collaborative arrangements. I do acknowledge that all parties have indicated that they recognise the importance of collaboration. There is no intention to provide a right of veto over another health professional’s practice. The intention is, and always has been, to provide safe, coordinated and quality care for Australians.