Page 41 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 16 February 1993
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Madam Speaker, let me make it clear that the fact that the Government proposes a variation to the community means exactly that. The Government seeks the community's views, and its subsequent decision is affected by those views. Any draft variation may be rejected or significantly amended. While proponents may be inclined to take a risk on a variation being approved, the Government is not presently considering measures to prevent anticipatory sales. However, my department will continue to advise proponents that it is extremely unwise to anticipate approval of a variation by the Government or by the Legislative Assembly. I am pleased that the PDI Committee has given a strong message in this respect. Mr Lamont has indicated the purposes of the other proposals, which are fairly routine, and I will make no further comment.
HEALTH BILL 1993
MR BERRY (Minister for Health, Minister for Industrial Relations and Minister for Sport) (4.47): Madam Speaker, I seek leave to present the Health Bill 1993.
Leave granted.
MR BERRY: I present the Health Bill 1993.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BERRY: I move:
That this Bill be agreed to in principle.
Madam Speaker, the Health Bill 1993 and the Health (Consequential Provisions) Bill 1993 transfer health administration in the Territory from the Board of Health to the Department of Health. It is now appropriate for the management of health services to shift onto a departmental basis. The Board of Health has fulfilled a very useful role in managing the health service in the Territory and in dealing with some significant issues, among which the redevelopment project and accountability for health finance dominated. These matters are now well in hand. The necessity for a board to provide stewardship has been drawn into question by members opposite, and the board is now unable to pursue the course which it was originally set.
Madam Speaker, I anticipate that the transition to a department will provide for more streamlined and efficient management decision making processes, and clearer lines of accountability in relation to linking new policy with government priorities and planning. The savings and transitional provisions of the Health (Consequential Provisions) Bill, which I will introduce shortly, will ensure a smooth changeover without disruption to service providers or to clients of the ACT health service, whilst preserving full accountability to me as Minister for Health and to the Assembly.
The Health Bill provides for certain matters in relation to the administration of health services that it is more appropriate to deal with in substantive legislation than administratively. Firstly, the Health Bill carries over provisions from the Health Services Act 1990 by providing for the appointment of quality assurance committees by the Minister. These committees are set up on a statutory basis as
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