Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources) Share this | Hansard source

Again, the government supports Senator Griff for his proposed amendment to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Bill but does not support the proposed amendment to clause 35A of the bill to specify what professional qualifications the Chief Clinical Adviser must hold. We want to ensure that the commissioner has sufficient flexibility to appoint a Chief Clinical Adviser who will best support them in performing their functions. Having substantial clinical knowledge, skills and experience is inherent within the role of Chief Clinical Adviser, as, without these skills, the person could not provide the support that the commissioner would want to have from their Chief Clinical Adviser on complex clinical issues. Specifying that the role must be performed by a medical practitioner also risks excluding other relevant clinical professionals. In addition, the government has announced that the commissioner and Chief Clinical Adviser will be supported by an expert clinical panel which would be accessed when specific complex issues emerged that required specialist expertise, advice and assessment. It is expected that the expert clinical panel would include members from a range of clinical specialties.