David Leyonhjelm (NSW, Liberal Democratic Party) Share this | Hansard source

This bill, as amended, does more than what is reported in the media. We all know it empowers doctors to select sick people to come to Australia and that this selection is subject to review by the Independent Health Advice Panel. We also know that family members can accompany sick people to Australia. But the bill also empowers doctors to select healthy people who are unrelated to the patient to come to Australia so as to accompany the patient. There is no review of this by the Independent Health Advice Panel. The expertise of doctors does not extend to determining who should accompany a patient to Australia. This power is ripe for abuse from doctors who think they are God. However, because of Labor taking over this chamber, no amendment to fix this egregious error can be moved. Those senators who vote for this bill will be voting for doctors determining which healthy people can come to Australia.