Page 914 - Week 03 - Tuesday, 16 March 2010
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Regarding legal representation, we have been informed that the provision that requires flegal representation to be agreed relates to panel type processes, which are intended to be more of an informal nature, and that there is an intention also to avoid adversarial approaches with the panel. This seems to be a good approach to addressing the circumstances of the panels. With regard to the relevance of criminal convictions, we understand it is anticipated that, with the national boards and agencies being in place, proposed national guidelines will be developed and that they should be available prior to the commencement of the legislation on 1 July 2010.
I will just note again that we had quite considerable discussions over a year ago with some of the peak bodies and we have also had meetings and been in conversation with the various boards. I think there has been a certain level of misunderstanding, particularly around the complaints process. I will talk more about that later. What is being proposed in this bill is not inconsistent. New South Wales are taking a similar approach because they also have a very strong health complaints system in place. We are retaining the health complaints commissioner but also having that process of national registration accreditation. Essentially, we are getting two very good processes being connected and integrated together. We think it is of benefit to retain both of those processes for the ACT.
MS GALLAGHER (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Health and Minister for Industrial Relations) (4.55): I thank members for their contributions to the debate this afternoon and also for their in-principle support for this bill.
The object of the bill is to adopt a health practitioner regulation national law as a law of the ACT to implement the national registration and accreditation scheme for registered health professionals in the ACT and also to make consequential amendments to ACT legislation to support the introduction of the national scheme.
This bill gives the ACT the opportunity to implement a major health workforce reform that is focused on providing quality health services and protecting the safety of the ACT community and the broader population. The national scheme seeks to reduce multiple regulation systems across Australia and health professions by establishing one national system that sets standards and processes to apply Australia wide.
The scheme will help health professionals move around the country more easily, reduce red tape, provide greater safeguards for the public and promote a more flexible, responsive and sustainable health workforce. Enabling health practitioners to move between jurisdictions with minimal barriers is paramount for the ACT, particularly as we are landlocked by New South Wales. We rely on practitioners visiting the ACT to provide specialist and backup health services on a regular basis. The national scheme will enhance the mobility of the health workforce in this regard. The scheme is also designed to apply registration and accreditation standards that must be met in order to obtain registrations and that these standards apply across Australia.
There has been an extensive consultation process across Australia, including local stakeholders, in the development of the national law. Passage of this bill will see the ACT participate in a national initiative to implement a modern system of regulation
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