Page 1506 - Week 05 - Thursday, 12 May 1994
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Perhaps even breaking it down and saying that Dr Smith's total payments of $150,000 amounted to this, this and this may be a breach of confidentiality; but saying globally, "We paid Dr Smith that amount of money" is no more a breach of confidentiality than any other accounting which members opposite urge the Government to make.
Members opposite bombard Ministers' offices on a weekly basis with demands, through questions on notice, to know what we paid out by way of contractors. There really is no difference in terms of what the contractor does. Traditionally, global figures earned by lawyers have been published. The Attorney-General's Department annual report publishes them. The Federal Attorney-General's Department, for years, has published a list of what various counsel and various firms of solicitors receive by way of brief fees. The Department of Urban Services for some years has published in one of its appendix volumes to its annual report a huge list of various contractors in this town and what they received for various contracts. So there is no confidentiality there. Key data relating to individual doctors for specific procedures on specific dates certainly is confidential and does raise some health privacy concerns. We accept that. We accept that, as the need is to get information to the Health Insurance Commission or the Auditor-General, Mrs Carnell's amendment is appropriate, and it will be supported by the Government.
Question resolved in the affirmative.
Bill agreed to in principle.
Detail Stage
Bill, by leave, taken as a whole
MRS CARNELL (Leader of the Opposition) (4.31): I move:
Clause 5, page 2, line 28, proposed new subsection 21(1), omit "to a person or body", substitute "only to the Health Insurance Commission established by the Health Insurance Commission Act 1973 of the Commonwealth or the Auditor-General".
I have spoken about the reasons for this amendment, and I do not think I need to add anything at this stage. I think it does tighten up the availability of information. I think that will make many of the health providers substantially more supportive of this legislation. I think that is a good way to go.
MR CONNOLLY (Attorney-General and Minister for Health) (4.32): The Government is happy. This is an improvement on the original 1990 Liberal version of the confidentiality clause.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
Bill, as amended, agreed to.
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