Page 2576 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 1994

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Mr Stevenson: Madam Speaker, I wonder whether I could move to give the Liberal Party time this morning to bring on any other matters I have on the notice paper. I think they have missed one or two, although I am not sure.

MADAM SPEAKER: I do not think so, Mr Stevenson. Thank you for trying.

HEALTH COMPLAINTS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994

MR MOORE (11.26): Madam Speaker, I present the Health Complaints (Amendment) Bill 1994.

Title read by Clerk.

MR MOORE: I move:

That this Bill be agreed to in principle.

Madam Speaker, what we present here today is a sensible and logical piece of legislation which will improve what is already a very good Act that passed through this Assembly, as I recall, with minimum dissent - that is, the Health Complaints Bill 1994. Madam Speaker, this Bill contrasts greatly with the Bill that was just presented to the Assembly by our new member, Mr Stefaniak. His Bill was a publicity stunt and reiterated something that is already on the notice paper from Mr Stevenson.

Mr Humphries: You are embarrassed by it, Michael.

MR MOORE: There is an interjection from Mr Humphries that I am embarrassed by it. I am not embarrassed by it at all, Mr Humphries, and I have made it very clear that I am not changing my vote. The whole exercise is totally futile and reflects the sort of approach that was part and parcel of the First Assembly when Mr Stefaniak was part of the Alliance Government.

Madam Speaker, this Bill, in contrast, makes a very sensible and rational adjustment to the Health Complaints Act by drawing to ordinary people's attention that, if they go to a general practitioner, an acupuncturist, a chiropractor or a physiotherapist and are dissatisfied with the service they get, there is something they can do. This Bill requires that a small piece of paper - an A4 piece of paper, the same size as I am holding up at the moment - be displayed in each part of the premises that is attended by users and in a position of such prominence that it is likely to be seen by those users. That is a very simple thing for people to do. That sheet of paper will be headed "Health Complaints Unit" in characters of 24-point type. Most of us know the size of points nowadays because we use them on our computers.


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