Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to add a couple of comments following those questions that have been raised by the shadow minister. It is difficult on this occasion to continue to have patience with an opposition who refuse to acknowledge that in this instance all 10 professions covered by this legislation, all states and territories and the previous government that he was part of have signed onto this plan. If there were any complications, misjudgments or unintended consequences from the plan that the member opposite suggests that we put forward, I would remind him that it is his current leader who was the Minister for Health and Ageing at the time that the previous Prime Minister signed this agreement. It has only been our government that has been able to pursue it to implementation stage to iron out a vast range of complex issues.

The only part of the comments of the shadow minister that I agree with is that of course a new national registration and accreditation scheme over time will need to be able to change if problems arise. It is a complex system, and no-one is pretending that it is not, but I think it is more than audacious to come in here and deny the fact that we now have all 10 professions being covered by this calling for the registration and accreditation scheme to be introduced. We have all the states and territories on board. We are not required to pass the substantive legislation here. We are passing legislation which ensures that various financial benefits paid by the Commonwealth will be appropriately paid to people who are registered and accredited under this scheme.

It is simply wrong, quite wrong, to say that this will have no benefit for patients and no impact on improving standards. The very purpose of introducing a nationally consistent registration and accreditation scheme is to enable the easy mobility of our vitally important health workforce across the country, which of course has an immediate impact on patients, who need nurses, doctors and other health professionals to be able to move where there is need, where there are better employment opportunities or where their families might be and continue practising. Of course, it ties in very well with the national standards that will be established through the registration and accreditation scheme and expanded through the government’s National Health and Hospitals Network, where we are introducing national standards that apply clinically across the whole country.

I accept that the shadow minister would like to be sure that, if any future problems arise, they will be handled. Obviously, the government are always prepared to look at problems as they arise in the implementation of any scheme. It would be foolish not to. I do not think that requires an undertaking; I think that is common sense. I think the approach we have taken to date, including accepting the recommendations that came from the Senate committee report, is an important indication that we are prepared to do that. I hope that this legislation will now pass this House and be able to be dealt with expeditiously in the Senate.

Question agreed to.

Bill, as amended, agreed to.

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