Page 4028 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: I would ask for the forbearance of the Assembly. I know that members can refuse leave to incorporate a speech in Hansard; but we have a great many Bills to go through and I believe that the Minister is trying to expedite the matter as much as possible.
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Deputy Speaker, in earlier practice, on some Bills I have sought leave to incorporate the speech in Hansard; but, on more substantial matters, particularly those dealing with the criminal law, I have read the full speeches.
Mr Kaine: Would you like to read the whole Bill?
MR CONNOLLY: Mr Kaine, perhaps we could further enlighten Mr Stevenson by reading the whole Bill.
The Dentists (Amendment) Bill 1994 is the eighth in a series of nine ACT health professions registration laws which are being amended in accordance with the Australian Health Ministers' agreement to adopt consistent standards for the regulation of health occupations. The Dentists (Amendment) Bill 1994 amends the Dentists Registration Act 1931. The proposed amendments adopt the nationally agreed uniform standards and arrangements for regulating dentists, specialist dentists and dental hygienists. The Bill also provides for an expanded range of uniform sanctions which can be imposed on these professions in relation to disciplinary or public health grounds.
In particular, the Bill recognises the entitlement of a person who is registered as a dentist, specialist dentist or dental hygienist in a State or another Territory to registration in the ACT. The Bill also provides for conditions which are imposed upon a person's registration in another jurisdiction as a result of disciplinary action to be applied in respect of the person's registration in the Territory. These provisions are intended to be consistent with the mutual recognition principle relating to occupations as set out in section 17 of the Commonwealth's Mutual Recognition Act 1992. With the application of that principle in both the ACT and other jurisdictions, it has become necessary to adopt the agreed minimum standards for registration in any of these professions. Unless all jurisdictions where mutual recognition applies have the same standard for registration, the jurisdiction where a lower standard applies will provide the means for a person who satisfies that lower standard to gain registration in all jurisdictions under the mutual recognition principle.
To be eligible for general or unconditional registration as a dentist, applicants must be graduates of a course of education or training in dentistry offered by an Australian institution that is accredited by the board or a registration authority in a State or another Territory; or they must have completed a course of education and training in dentistry in a place outside Australia which is accredited by the board, passed such examinations as the board requires and undertaken any training and gained any experience in practising dentistry as the board may require, but not for longer than 12 months.
To be entitled to unconditional registration as a dental hygienist, a person must be a graduate of a course of education and training as a dental hygienist which has been accredited by the board or a registration authority in a State or another Territory, or must have completed a course of education and training as a dental hygienist in a place outside
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