The SPEAKER ( Ms AE Burke ) took the chair at 09:00, made an acknowledgement of country and read prayers.
That the Member for Dobell be requested by the House to attend the Chamber and for a period not exceeding ten minutes outline the allegations made in today's press that he was offered an inducement to retire from his seat at the next election.
That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the Member for Sturt moving forthwith: That the Member for Dobell be requested by the House to attend the Chamber and for a period not exceeding ten minutes outline the allegations made in today's press that he was offered an inducement to retire from his seat at the next election.
Denying he was bitter at the way the party had treated him, Mr Thomson revealed he had rejected an offer from the NSW Labor Party to allow him to be beaten in a Labor preselection contest …
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [09:06]
(The Speaker—Ms Anna Burke)
That the member be no longer heard.
The House divided. [09:19]
(The Speaker—Ms Anna Burke)
The House divided. [9:32]
(The Speaker—Ms Anna Burke)
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Robert speaking for a period not exceeding 18 minutes.
Military Justice (Interim Measures) Amendment Bill 2013
That the Military Justice (Interim Measures) Amendment Bill 2013 be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.
Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Bill 2013
That this bill be now read a second time.
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (New Mandate and Other Measures) Bill 2013
That the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (New Mandate and Other Measures) Bill 2013 be referred to the Federation Chamber for further consideration.
Referendum (Machinery Provisions) Amendment Bill 2013
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Air Warfare Destroyer Ship sustainment facilities at Garden Island, Randwick Barracks and HMAS Watson in Sydney, New South Wales.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Construction of a new post-entry quarantine facility at Mickleham, Victoria.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Defence Science and Technology Organisation Human Protection and Performance Division security and facilities upgrade, Fishermans Bend, Melbourne, Victoria.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Infrastructure and upgrade works to establish a Regional Processing Centre on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Landing Helicopter Dock Ship sustainment facilities at Garden Island and Randwick Barracks in Sydney, New South Wales.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , it is expedient to carry out the following proposed work which was referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works and on which the committee has duly reported to Parliament: Multi National Base Tarin Kot Remediation Project, Uruzgan Province, Afghanistan.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Integrated fit-out of new leased premises for the Australian Taxation Office at the site known as Site 5 and 6, the Revitalised Central Dandenong project, Dandenong, Victoria.
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Development and construction of housing for Defence at Warner, Brisbane, Queensland
That, in accordance with the provisions of the Public Works Committee Act 1969 , the following proposed work be referred to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works for consideration and report: Redevelopment and construction of housing for defence at Samford Road, Enoggera, Brisbane, Queensland.
That the report be agreed to.
Response by Mr Matthew Joyce to remarks made by the Member for Fadden
On 11 October 2012, the Member for Fadden, Mr Stuart Robert MP, made a speech in the House of Representatives concerning the role of Sunland Group Limited (Sunland) in a land transaction in Dubai in 2007, a transaction which is the subject of both an Australian civil proceeding and a criminal proceeding in Dubai involving me.
The speech by Mr Robert MP contains a number of statements that are misleading, inaccurate and contrary to the findings made in a judgment handed down in the Supreme Court of Victoria.
I reject the specific statements that Mr Robert made in relation to me.
That this report and the report presented on 21 March 2013 be agreed to.
Australia Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013
"In November 1967, then Prime Minister, Harold Holt, informed the House of Representatives that a new Commonwealth agency would be formed to fund the arts in Australia.
That new body, arms-length and administered by the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, with support from officials from other relevant government departments, and people from the arts, the law, the financial sector, and other areas of professional life, met for the first time under Prime Minister Gorton in July, 1968.
It assumed responsibility for theatre, arts and filmmaking and existed alongside the other agencies responsible for the arts—the ABC (symphony orchestras), the Commonwealth Arts Advisory Board (Visual Arts), the Commonwealth Literary Fund and the Commonwealth Assistance to Australian Composers.
Some of these had been in existence for most of the last century."
... funding for the Australia Council, which makes direct, arms' length grants to individual artists and performing arts companies, has risen from $73 million 12 years ago to $161 million in this year's budget—an increase of more than 110%.
In the performing arts professional companies, with one or two exceptions, were small, precariously financed and inexperienced. Even among the handful of large companies, none was more than two decades old.
…while in literature, visual arts and the crafts many creative individuals were forced to compromise their standards in order to survive. The Aboriginal arts, except where they struggle to survive underground, were largely depreciated or ignored.
to ensure the best is encouraged, and those who produce it are given the greatest opportunity to achieve the highest quality of which they are capable—
…there are wider benefits that are not as easily quantified or identified. These benefits are seen in non-arts areas of our economy such as education, social cohesion, national imagination and health.
(1) Clause 4, page 3 (before line 15), before the definition of appointed Board member, insert:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practice means the creation or performance, wholly or partly by artists who are Aboriginal persons or Torres Strait Islanders, of arts.
(2) Clause 9, page 6 (after line 28), after paragraph (1)(b), insert:
(ba) to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts practice;
(bb) to support Australian arts practice that reflects the diversity of Australia;
(bc) to uphold and promote freedom of expression in the arts;
(bd) to promote community participation in the arts;
(3) Clause 11, page 8 (line 27), omit paragraph (b).
(4) Clause 31, page 18 (lines 6 and 7), omit the note.
(5) Clause 31, page 18 (after line 7), after subclause (1), insert:
(1A) If the terms of reference of a committee include providing advice, or making recommendations, about policy, or the provision of financial assistance or guarantees, in relation to the arts (or any of the arts), the Board must ensure that the members of the committee include at least one person who has relevant experience in the arts.
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australia Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013
That this bill be now read a third time.
Tax Laws Amendment (Countering Tax Avoidance and Multinational Profit Shifting) Bill 2013
The House divided. [12:00]
(The Speaker—Ms Anna Burke)
That this bill be now read a third time.
Military Justice (Interim Measures) Amendment Bill 2013
That this bill be now read a third time.
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (New Mandate and Other Measures) Bill 2013
That this bill be now read a third time.
Australia Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013
Aged Care (Living Longer Living Better) Bill 2013
Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Bill 2013
Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013
Aged Care (Bond Security) Amendment Bill 2013
Aged Care (Bond Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2013
A snapshot of the industry does not depict a sustainable system: that only 40% of aged care providers are operating in the black: hours of service are decreasing; hours of care provided under community aged care packages have fallen; and many providers are not building new residential care beds. The situation is worse in rural and regional areas where providers face higher costs with less ability to manage their income streams.
Most employees on award wages need to negotiate an Enterprise Agreement to get the pay rise. To win a good agreement, all potential members are urged to join United Voice to speak with one voice in negotiations.
Indexation needs to be locked into subsidy payments on an annual basis (same as the current indexation application to basic daily care fees) for both Aged Care Funding Instruments (ACFI) and Community Care subsidies.
An aged care provider who operates a small 31-bed RRR facility would be eligible to receive $17,000 under the Workforce Supplement principles but in order to receive this, would have to commit to an additional $30,000 in wage supplementation support (that is, $47,000 in total). This amount additionally does not include on-costs for the provider which must also be absorbed.
That the following Federation Chamberorder of the day, private Members' business, be returned to the House for further consideration:
No.10—Newstart Allowance.
That so much of standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent the following items of private Members' business being called on immediately in the following order:
Newstart Allowance—Order of the day;
Protecting Local Jobs (Regulating Enterprise Migration Agreements) Bill 2012—Order of the day No. 26; and
Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Towards Transparency) Bill 2013—Order of the day No. 27.
Protecting Local Jobs (Regulating Enterprise Migration Agreements) Bill 2012
Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Towards Transparency) Bill 2013
The House divided. [13:29]
(The Speaker—Ms Anna Burke)
To the Honourable The Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives
This petition of Supporters of Australian Defence Force Cadets
Draws to the attention of the House: Budget Cuts to Army Cadet Programs and Air Force Cadet Units Facing Possible Closure.
We therefore ask the House to: Reinstate the full cadet force allowance and programs.
We support most strongly, the facilitation of important training to the cadets and future members of the Australian Defence Force.
[The] government continues to demonstrate a commitment to prudent fiscal policy over the medium term. Given the low level of public debt …
It is very pleasing to see the increased school funding in the Budget for the next six years, a system of properly indexed funding for schooling based on the appropriate school resource standard and loadings based on need. This will be the backbone of school improvement.
The measures announced tonight confirm we are still on a slow moving fiscal cliff, imbalances appear to be chronic, and our standard of living is at risk.
When he gives his response to the budget tomorrow night, he needs to tell us exactly what he would do. If the tax cut was not enough, how much would he add to it? Once he has told us how much he would add to it, he then needs to tell us what he would cut to pay for it.
… he should tell us exactly where it is coming from and he should tell us exactly what will be cut to pay for any increase in spending that he proposes.
Australia Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013
That notwithstanding the provisions of Standing Order 148, the House acknowledges that the amendments moved to the Australia Council Bill addressed matters raised during the Senate committee inquiry into the bills and the fact that the House Committee referenced the Senate inquiry and affirms the actions of the House in the passage of the Australia Council Bill 2013 and the Australia Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013 and authorises the Speaker to transmit the bills to the Senate for its concurrence.
Report relating to the consideration of bills introduced 14 to 16 May 2013.
1. The committee met in private session on 15 and 16 May 2013.
2. The committee determined that the following bill be referred to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit:
REASONS FOR REFERRAL/PRINCIPAL ISSUES FOR CONSIDERATION:
To ensure that combining the two Acts into a single Act does not impose additional and unnecessary reporting requirements on bodies subject to the Act and does not reduce transparency or remove important oversight where it is appropriate.
*********************
3. The committee decided to amend its determination in respect of private Members' business for the Federation Chamber on Monday 27 May 2013, from 11 am to 1.30 pm as reported to the House on Wednesday 15 May 2013, by substituting:
MS HALL: To move:
That this House:
(1) acknowledges the outstanding contribution made by both full time retained fire fighters and volunteer fire fighters within our community;
(2) notes with deep concern that:
(a) over the course of the past month, the Belmont and Tingira Heights fire stations have been closed or 'taken off line' for a combined total of over 70 hours as result of a cost cutting exercise by the NSW Government; and
(b) the practice of taking fire stations off line is wide spread throughout NSW as a result of cost cutting measures and staffing reallocations conducted by the NSW Government;
(3) condemns in the strongest possible terms the:
(a) ongoing closures of the Belmont and Tingira Heights fire stations;
(b) NSW Government's apparent cavalier attitude towards the safety of the people within the NSW electoral division of Shortland; and
(c) NSW Government's alleged attempts to threaten fire fighters who advertise the closure of the Belmont and Tingira Heights fire stations within the local community; and
(4) demands that adequate staff be allocated to Belmont and Tingira Heights fire stations to ensure adequate fire protection is provided to all residents in the NSW electoral division of Shortland.
Time allotted—30 minutes .
All members speaking — 5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 6 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this should continue on a future day.
in place of:
3 MR L. D. T. FERGUSON: To move:
That this House:
(1) recognises the accomplishments of 50 years of fruitful diplomatic relations between Peru and Australia, the continuing friendship between our nations and the contribution of Peruvian migrants in our nation building; and
(2) notes:
(a) the reopening of our Embassy in Lima in September 2010;
(b) our:
(i) shared democratic values in the context of a strong commitment to transparency, well‑established policy credibility and good governance structure and quality of institutions; and
(ii) mutual emphasis on multilateral involvement exemplified by Peru's membership to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO), Organization of American States, Asia‑Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, Pacific Alliance and Forum for East Asia and Latin America Cooperation;
(c) the roles of Herbert Vere Evatt and former United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de Cuellar point to our mutual activity;
(d) our similar activity on the free trade front and common membership of the Cairns Group, WTO and APEC; and
(e) the:
(i) visits to Peru by former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam in 1975 and former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd in 2008, and the visit of former President Alan Garcia Perez to Australia in 2007;
(ii) November 2011 framework to promote Bilateral Consultations and Cooperation;
(iii) presence at the 2011 census of 8,441 Peruvian born citizens in Australia and attraction of Peru to Australian visitors totalling 30,000 in 2011; and
(iv) longstanding Australian mining endeavours in Peru, the growth of Peruvian student numbers in Australia and 56 Australian companies having an office in Peru or investment in a Peruvian project. (Notice given 13 March 2013.)
Time allotted—30 minutes .
Mr L. D. T. Ferguson — 10 minutes.
Next Member speaking—10 minutes.
Other Members—5 minutes each.
[Minimum number of proposed Members speaking = 2 x 10 mins + 2 x 5 mins]
The Committee determined that consideration of this matter should continue on a future day.
That standing order 31 (automatic adjournment of the House) be suspended for this sitting and that, after the Leader of the Opposition completes his reply to the Budget speech, the House automatically stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Monday, 27 May 2013 unless the Speaker or, in the event of the Speaker being unavailable, the Deputy Speaker, fixes an alternative day or hour of meeting.
The failure of the Budget to address cost of living pressures on Australian families.
A strategy that will see the budget return to surplus in three years' time, three years ahead of schedule …
We will be back in the black by 2012-13, on time, as promised. The alternative—meandering back to surplus—would compound the pressures in our economy and push up the cost of living for pensioners and working people.
We have taken the responsible course to delay the return to surplus.
That so much of the standing and sessional orders be suspended as would prevent Mr Robert speaking for a period not exceeding 22 minutes.
Journalist Patrick Carlyon was, I suspect, far too close to the truth when he wrote:
Veterans' Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon has adopted a literal approach to the Gallipoli story. He has conjured a shambles.
This Government's apparent agenda for the Centenary of ANZAC appears to be an excessive outsourcing of decisions and responsibility to a paid Board whose reported activities, to date, give the impression that its size is making it incapable of actually making those decisions.
The Minister's refusal to make a statement to Parliament outlining the Government’s agenda, the decisions which have been taken or the considerations, if any, which are limiting the options available to the Government on the commemoration, is concerning.
If we are to make this commemoration a success through community engagement, if we are to leave a lasting legacy for future generations, then it is incumbent upon this Government to be open, honest and upfront about what we should expect.
It is clear that leadership on the centenary of Anzac from this government and the minister is lacking. While I do not accept the view of some that Minister Snowdon appears totally disinterested, I do strongly urge him to take the ministerial ownership that is required and to take control of a situation that is short on time and long on expectation.
Migration Amendment (Unauthorised Maritime Arrivals and Other Measures) Bill 2012
That the amendments be agreed to.
Aged Care (Living Longer Living Better) Bill 2013
Australian Aged Care Quality Agency Bill 2013
Australian Aged Care Quality Agency (Transitional Provisions) Bill 2013
Aged Care (Bond Security) Amendment Bill 2013
Aged Care (Bond Security) Levy Amendment Bill 2013
…seeking to develop a holistic regional solution to allow ageing residents to remain in the region for as long as possible, within the context of Federal and State Government policy initiatives.
In our view the Living Longer Living Better reform package ... largely ignored the Productivity Commission's recommendation for a personalised care entitlement system that would enable improved customer choice and flexibility. We believe our Older Australians and their families should be able to pick and choose where they receive their care. We therefore urge the Government to proceed with a single entitlement based funding system and to start this process of reform now; not 5 years hence as suggested.
The aged care industry is one of the most highly regulated industries in Australia. The requirement to meet the 4 accreditation standards and 44 outcomes, with two annual audits and a major one each three years; and with numerous regulations and requirements at all levels, begs the question, why even more scrutiny? What is prompting these kinds of statements?
Aged care providers face a revenue black hole of more than $750 million over the next two-and-a-half years …
There are four reasons why the workforce supplement should not go ahead. First of all, it is wrong in principle. To take away funds from ACFI, which essentially belong to our residents, and then transfer them to workers, is wrong in principle. And it is particularly wrong in an environment where consumer direction will be the future. Also it is futile, because robbing Peter to pay Paul does not generate more money in the system, sustainably, to pay higher wages.
This measure is secondly wrong because it industrialise what is essentially a funding issue. It centralises industrial arrangements and takes away the outcomes that one negotiates individually as an enterprise. It also seems designed to promote the interests of the union by driving clauses that have been rejected by many employers in their own enterprise bargaining arrangements. Many of the initiatives that had to be included are also costly and do not directly benefit residents, or clients.
Thirdly, it should be rejected because the proposition is not fully funded. So, in addition to recycling existing funds, so we have no more money, it does not cover on-costs. That includes numerous expensive expenditure items that will be part of the overall deal. Our calculation suggests that the cost will outweigh income by two to one. That seems extraordinary, but it is true once you add up all the elements. We have an example from the bush, where to gain $17,000 will cost $30,000.
The fourth reason it should be rejected is that it is discriminatory. The majority of regional, remote and rural providers will not be able to comply with the requirements – and they are the organisations who are most in need.
To summarise those points: this supplement is very poor piece of public policy. Let us not call it a compact, because it certainly has been agreed with provider organisations. It takes money from care to return to some employers who can strike a deal.
The workforce subsidy … is a major concern. We as an organisation and all of our alliance have EBAs which pay above the awards. We all want to do well by our staff and in our own way we put in place a number of things around family friendly environments and rostering around those needs and such to retain our staff. We would love to give them more money as well. The problem is that subsidy is a shortfall for what we actually need. In WA an average worker would have six weeks annual leave – that is a carer. If they are a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse they can have seven weeks if they work a rotational shift, and if they were lucky enough to be moving from a state award into the federal they would get an extra week on top of that – so that is eight weeks. The accruals that relate to that workforce are substantial. Any subsidy that comes through has to recognise the flow on of the accrual cost that goes with that. For organisations like mine it can be millions of dollars that you have in accruals.
National Disability Insurance Scheme Legislation Amendment Bill 2013
DisabilityCare Australia Fund Bill 2013
Medicare Levy Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Fringe Benefits Tax Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Income Tax Rates Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Superannuation (Excess Concessional Contributions Tax) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Superannuation (Excess Non-concessional Contributions Tax) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Superannuation (Excess Untaxed Roll-over Amounts Tax) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Income Tax (TFN Withholding Tax (ESS)) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Income Tax (First Home Saver Accounts Misuse Tax) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Family Trust Distribution Tax (Primary Liability) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 1) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Taxation (Trustee Beneficiary Non-disclosure Tax) (No. 2) Amendment (DisabilityCare Australia) Bill 2013
Foreign Affairs Portfolio Miscellaneous Measures Bill 2013
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Bill (No. 2) 2012
Broadcasting Legislation Amendment (Digital Dividend) Bill 2013
Aviation Transport Security Amendment (Inbound Cargo Security Enhancement) Bill 2013
Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Compliance Measures No. 2) Bill 2013
Superannuation Legislation Amendment (Reform of Self Managed Superannuation Funds Supervisory Levy Arrangements) Bill 2013
Customs and AusCheck Legislation Amendment (Organised Crime and Other Measures) Bill 2013
Not-for-profit Sector Freedom to Advocate Bill 2013
That business intervening before order of the day No. 15, government business, be postponed until the next sitting.
Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2013-2014
Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2013-2014
Appropriation (Parliamentary Departments) Bill (No. 1) 2013-2014
The four years of surpluses I announce tonight are a powerful endorsement of the … success of our policies.
The DEPUTY SPEAKER ( Mr BC Scott ) took the chair at 09:43.
I am only 15 years old, from Adelaide, and although it may not seem like that much of a problem coming from me, I saw it the footage on the news the other night. I have never been so ashamed of being human. I didn't even think it was humanly possible to be so heartless.'
I have been intensely disturbed for day after watching the video footage of the cruelty to live animals sent to Egyptian 'state-of-the-art' abattoirs. These practices are disgusting. They're unnecessary and they are totally cruel.
I have watched and heard about with absolute horror and disgust at the dreadful acts of cruelty to animals, namely Australian livestock, over in other countries. Such brutality and downright torture—it is time for it to stop immediately.
I am appalled that we are still sending our animals overseas to be treated like this. This is not okay. Please do what you can to prevent this terrible cruelty happening to our cattle. We wouldn't allow it to happen to pets--owners would be prosecuted. Our farmers don't want to see their animals treated like this either.
I am astonished and deeply concerned having heard about the dreadful conditions with animals and livestock in Egypt. I also heard on the ABC this morning that graziers in Queensland are pressuring government to relax on live animal export trade to those countries that have deplorable slaughtering processes. Please, I ask that you do not go back on your word to the Australian people and please, if there is anything humanitarian that you can do to influence for the better the terrible situation.
Please, can I ask that you redouble your efforts to keep this issue alive in Canberra.
Military Justice (Interim Measures) Amendment Bill 2013
Export Finance and Insurance Corporation Amendment (New Mandate and Other Measures) Bill 2013
In respect of the Government's decision to remove from the 2012-13 Budget, funding for Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) of non-diabetic, chronic wounds, (a) is it a fact that the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) misinterpreted the Hammarlund, C and Sundberg, T (1994), as indicated in submissions to the recent Senate Finance and Public Administration References Committee Medicare funding for Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment
Inquiry (and Dr Hammarlund and Professor Deeble), (b) will she, as a result of the Committee's conclusion (paragraph 2.77), revisit the Government's decision to remove funding for HBOT, (c) what is the Government's position on the Committee's conclusion (paragraph 2.78), that there is some likelihood that the costs from cutting the HBOT treatment option for non-diabetic wound patients may exceed any savings achieved, and (d) has the Government's response to the Committee's report been presented; if not, why not.
(a) No.
(b to d) The Government response to the Report is currently under consideration.
Will the Government (a) consider the Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatment (HBOT) industry's proposal to adjust the Medicare rebate to ensure that until the current randomized control trial is completed, patients can receive treatment without costing the Government one extra cent beyond normal care without hyperbaric treatment; if not, why not, and (b) reconsider its position on removing the funding until the definitive study is completed.
The Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) is an independent expert committee that advises me, as the Minister for Health, about whether a medical service should be publicly funded based on an assessment of its safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness, using the best available evidence.
After considering the strength of the available evidence in relation to the safety, effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for the treatment of
non-diabetic chronic wounds, MSAC advised that HBOT was no more clinically effective than conventional wound care and recommended that continued public funding was not justified.
The decision to remove funding for HBOT for chronic non-diabetic wounds from the Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) is consistent with the Government's commitment to evidence based decision making. The applicants for HBOT services have been provided with multiple opportunities spread over a decade, to meet the criteria for ongoing Medicare funding and have been unsuccessful on every occasion.
HBOT continues to receive Medicare funding for a range of other indications, including soft tissue radionecrosis, diabetic wounds, and decompression illness. Medicare rebates are also available for attendance and surgery services for patients with chronic wounds.
The applicants for HBOT services are able to resubmit an application to MSAC at any time.
In respect of the Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC), (a) how many positive deliberations are yet to receive finance review and/or ministerial approval for the release of the evaluation report, and of these, how many submissions have completed all the necessary steps aside from finance review and ministerial approval, (b) for the calendar years (i) 2005, (ii) 2006, (iii) 2007, (iv) 2008, (v) 2009, (vi) 2010, (vii) 2011, (viii) 2012, and (ix) 2013 (to date), what was the average length of time between the final MSAC meeting for approval of a submission and the release of the report, and (c) is she aware of any cases of MSAC approvals deferred on financial grounds; if so, can she provide a list containing each deferred item.
It is not clear in this question what is meant by 'finance review' and 'ministerial approval'.
The current MSAC process does not involve 'finance review' or 'ministerial approval' for the release of evaluation reports. The applicant is advised verbally of the outcomes of its submission within a fortnight, then provided with a written summary of each outcome approximately 10 weeks after the meeting. MSAC outcomes (in summary form) and full Public Summary Documents are published on the MSAC website as soon as they are available.
There was no data collected prior to 2007. The average time across 2007 to 2013 was 180 days. In 2007 the average number of days was 282. In 2012 the average number of days was 64 – a 77% improvement.
No.
What is she doing to provide access to existing remote monitoring and follow up telehealth technology for implanted cardiac devices through the Medicare Benefits Schedule.
An application has been made to the Medical Services Advisory Committee for Medicare funding of remote monitoring of implanted cardiac devices. This independent expert Committee advises me, as the Minister for Health, about whether a medical service should be publicly funded based on an assessment of its safety, effectiveness and cost effectiveness, using the best available evidence.
The proposed protocol for the assessment of remote monitoring was released for public consultation in 2012. The application will now be considered by the Committee.
How many staff in the Minister's office are currently employed on a subclass 457 visa.
The Department of Finance and Deregulation (Finance) supports the Special Minister of State in administering the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984. While Finance provides supporting personnel services for staff employed under the Act, it does not hold information on visa arrangements for individual staff.