Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Hansard source

I table responses to questions taken on notice during question time on 16 and 17 October 2019 asked by yourself, Madam Acting Deputy President Faruqi, relating to recreational hunting and sport shooting, and asked by Senator Griff relating to clinical health standards. I seek leave to have the responses incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The answer s read as follows—

Dear Mr President

I write with regard to a question I took on notice from Senator Faruqi during Question Time on Thursday 17 October 2019, on the matter of the Department of Health's Economic and social impacts of recreational hunting and shooting report.

The Department of Health engaged RM Consulting Group for $165,000 (GST lncl) to assess the health, wellbeing and economic impacts of recreational hunting and sport shooting in Australia. This was announced by the former Minister for Sport, Minister McKenzie in October 2018.

The final report was publicly released by the Department of Health on 20 September 2019 on its website. The report found that recreational hunting and shooting contributes $2.4 billion (gross) and $335 million (net) to Australia's GDP. In addition, it concluded that hunting and shooting provides a means of achieving meaningful levels of physical activity for many of its participants.

Australia's national sports plan, Sport 2030, outlines the need for a diverse sport industry and a wide range of activities to support more Australians to be more active, more often. The report shows:

The Australian Government recognises the positive impact that recreational hunting and shooting has both at an economic and social level in Australia.

I have copied this letter to Senator Faruqi .

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash

Dear Senator

I am writing in relation to questions you raised regarding the Government's commitment to delivering clinical health care standards during Question Time on Wednesday 16 October 2019.

Safety and quality in hospitals is primarily the responsibility of states and territories. The Australian Government supports the states and territories in improving hospital quality and safety by jointly funding the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission).

By working in partnership with the Australian Government, states and territories, the private sector, clinical experts, and patients and carers, the Commission aims to ensure that the health system is better informed, supported and organised to deliver safe and high-quality care.

All hospitals and day procedures are required to implement the Commission's National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. The NSQHS Standards were developed by the Commission in collaboration with the Australian Government, states and territories, private sector providers, clinical experts, patients and carers. The primary aims of the NSQHS Standards are to protect the public from harm and to improve the quality of health service provision.

The eight NSQHS Standards provide a nationally consistent statement about the level of care consumers can expect from health services. The eight NSQHS Standards are:

In addition to the NSQHS, the Commission has issued Clinical Care Standards. A Clinical Care Standard is a small number of quality statements that describe the care patients should be offered by health professionals and health services for a specific clinical condition or defined clinical pathway in line with current best evidence. Clinical Care Standards can play an important role in delivering appropriate care and reducing unwarranted variation, as they identify and define the care people should expect to be offered or receive, regardless of where they are treated in Australia.

I trust this information is of assistance to you. I have provided a copy of this letter to the Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, for information.

Yours sincerely

Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash