Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Education) Share this | Hansard source

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I shall move:

That the provisions of paragraphs (5) to (8) of standing order 111 not apply to the National Health Amendment (Effect of Prosecution—Approved Pharmacist Corporations) Bill 2023, allowing it to be considered during this period of sittings.

I also table a statement of reasons justifying the need for this bill to be considered during these sittings and seek leave to have the statement incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

Purpose of the Bill

The purpose of the National Health Amendment (Effect of Prosecution—Approved Pharmacist Corporations) Bill 2023 (the Bill) is to strengthen the Government's compliance powers with respect to pharmacists who are prosecuted for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) fraud related offences.

Currently, if a pharmacist is prosecuted for a PBS fraud related offence, their approval to supply PBS medicines can be suspended or revoked. A drafting anomaly prevents the power being exercised if the pharmacist holds their approval under a company structure.

Increasingly more pharmacies operate under company structures, exposing the PBS to further abuse by convicted fraudsters.

The Bill supports the integrity of the PBS by ensuring any pharmacist who is charged with, or convicted of, a PBS related offence is not able to perpetrate further fraud in their capacity as director of a company.

Reasons for Urgency

The Bill seeks to prevent all pharmacists who have been prosecuted for PBS fraud, including those who hold their approval under a company structure, from further defrauding the PBS. There have been recent cases where pharmacists have been charged with several counts of PBS fraud and PBS benefits continue to be paid. Payments may continue until the changes proposed in the Bill come into effect.

(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Health and Aged Care)