Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Hansard source

I can indicate to the chamber that the government does not support the amendments moved by the opposition.

Successive governments have successfully partnered with the private sector to deliver many programs and services, and continue to do so. Implementing these amendments would be an extraordinary limitation on any government's ability to continue with these partnerships, and would certainly send a concerning message to the private sector.

The proposed amendments would negatively impact on the government's ability to deliver the register by 20 March 2017 for the National Bowel Cancer Screening program and by 1 May 2017 for the renewed National Cervical Screening Program. Significant delays in the implementation of the register will have significant consequences for the renewed National Cervical Screening Program as well as for the introduction of MBS items for the new HPV test, which has been recommended by the Medical Services Advisory Committee and supported by jurisdictions as a more effective screening test for protection against cervical cancer in women.