Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst I absolutely agree with you that you need the framework legislation in place before the legislative instruments can be put in place, that doesn't stop you having to find the details of those particular instruments. It doesn't stop you from having undertaken the consultation so the clarity of what will be contained in those instruments and the detail about what will actually happen on the ground is known before the framework is put in place. So, whilst I appreciate the lecture on how legislation works, I don't think I was suggesting for a minute that we put legislative instruments into this place before we had the enacting framework in terms of legislation. I was simply saying that it would have been an entirely respectful thing to do to finish your consultation with the sector on the details of what is going to be some very significant implications around changes that have been four years in the making. For four years the sector has been working together to try and come up with this particular reform package to make sure that Australians are getting cheaper access to implantable devices, to make sure that the Prostheses List is streamlined and fit for purpose and to make sure that we continue to be able to provide, through the private health system, access to these lifesaving, life-changing procedures. It would have been a respectful thing to do to finish the consultation. In some instances, this government hasn't even started the consultation for something that is going to have to be in place by 1 July. It seems like it is rushed. I'm sure you're going to move your amendment in a minute. Once again, it seems like we've rushed the legislation in an attempt to tick and flick and say: 'We've got this legislation done and out of the way. Don't worry about providing any detail; we can fix it all up later.' I really do hope that your categorical commitment that this is not going to have any impact holds true in due course.

Before you move your amendment, as I assume you're going to do, can I move on to the prescribed list guide. Where are we at in terms of the development of the prescribed list guide used for administering private medical device listing processes from 1 July?