Brett Mason (Queensland, Liberal Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

Senator McLucas, I can do little better than give you my word. You will be pleased to know that in terms of process either the government could move an amendment substituting the words ‘pharmaceutical services federal committee of inquiry’ for ‘the minister’ or I could move a government amendment to that effect. In other words, I agree that there should be a 12-monthly report on the operation of the act—you are quite right—and as the committee said, there should be transparency about the operation, but the minister is determined that he should prepare the report. In terms of process, either you could adopt my suggestion or the government could move an amendment of its own volition, incorporating your amendment but substituting the words ‘the minister’ for ‘pharmaceutical services federal committee of inquiry’.