Gary Humphries (ACT, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend business of the Senate notice of motion No. 5 standing in my name for today by substituting for the reporting date of 12 May 2009 the reporting date of 18 June 2009.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the following matter be referred to the Community Affairs Committee for inquiry and report by 18 June 2009:

The design of the Federal Government’s national registration and accreditation scheme for doctors and other health workers, including:

(a)

the impact of the scheme on state and territory health services;

(b)

the impact of the scheme on patient care and safety;

(c)

the effect of the scheme on standards of training and qualification of relevant health professionals;

(d)

how the scheme will affect complaints management and disciplinary processes within particular professional streams;

(e)

the appropriate role, if any, in the scheme for state and territory registration boards; and

(f)

alternative models for implementation of the scheme.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

by leave—It is not the federal government’s scheme but reflects a COAG agreement to put in place a new arrangement for national registration and accreditation of health professionals. It is a national approach agreed by all first ministers, being progressed by all governments, not, as the motion outlines, a federal or Commonwealth government scheme. The overarching first bill has been passed, but many other key design features are expected to be contained in a subsequent bill which is yet to be determined by health ministers. The anticipated process is that the subsequent bill, once agreed, would be issued as an exposure draft. If there is a view to having a parliamentary inquiry, that would be the earliest stage to have that inquiry, when the committee can deal with a tangible piece of proposed legislation.

Question agreed to.