Page 4086 - Week 13 - Thursday, 10 November 1994
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A right of review is provided by the Bill, through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal, against decisions made by the board. Some decisions would also be subject to review, including decisions to impose conditions on registration; cancellation of full or interim registration; refusal to remove conditions; and the imposition of a fine. Finally, as there are currently no podiatrists registered under the ACT system, the Bill gives the Minister the discretion to make the first appointment to the board. Therefore, this first appointee must be providing podiatry services at the time and for three years preceding the commencement of the Act. They must be entitled to practise podiatry in another State or Territory.
Madam Speaker, this legislation is long overdue and should have been brought before the Assembly a long time ago. It shows, when there is not a pressing need, how long this sort of legislation can take. It is very unfortunate that legislation of this importance - because it is legislation to protect the community, as the Minister said in his tabling speech - has been delayed for so long. However, the main concern that I have in terms of financial implications is that, when the Government actually came to telling us what this legislation would cost, the comments were that the costs would be met from within existing resources. We would be very interested to know from the Minister exactly how much it will cost, and who is going to pay. Certainly, we know that the podiatrists are going to pay a registration fee, but it would have been nice for the Minister to have presented to the Assembly some costings. Obviously, the community's protection must come first, as it should have many years ago.
Certainly, the Opposition strongly supports this piece of legislation, as did Mr Humphries when he was Minister. It is unfortunate that it has taken this long. It is also unfortunate that other health professions, such as speech therapists and occupational therapists, will not be awarded the same sort of legislation and the community will not be given the protection that it deserves in regard to these two occupations, due to a Federal Government decision.
Debate interrupted.
ADJOURNMENT
MADAM SPEAKER: Order! It being 4.30 pm, I propose the question:
That the Assembly do now adjourn.
Mr Berry: Madam Speaker, I require that the question be put forthwith without debate.
Question resolved in the negative.
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