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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 10 Hansard (24 November) . . Page.. 2807 ..

MR MOORE (continuing):

The signing of the medical officers agreement for 1997 to 1999 on 19 September 1998 further addresses some of the concerns raised by the committee, particularly in relation to compliance with the terms and conditions of specialists' private practice agreements.

Mr Speaker, the Government takes seriously the recommendations of the standing committee and has therefore considered its response carefully. I would like to thank the standing committee for their report on this issue. I now commend the Government's response to the Assembly.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

MR MOORE (Minister for Health and Community Care) (3.52): Mr Speaker, for the information of members, I present the Government's response to the Standing Committee for the Chief Minister's Portfolio Public Accounts Committee Report No. 5, entitled "Review of Auditor-General's Report No. 8, 1997 - Salaried Specialists' Use of Private Practice Privileges", which was presented to the Assembly on 27 August 1998. I move:

That the Assembly takes note of the paper.

The committee's report made two specific recommendations, the first of which sought information on various matters, including the outcome of the enterprise bargaining agreement with salaried medical officers; measures to ensure full compliance with the acquittal of travel and research funds provided by the Private Practice Fund; arrangements to ensure that the equipment and books, et cetera, purchased by the Private Practice Fund are accounted for; and the effectiveness of the review of referral and practising arrangements of salaried specialists.

The committee's second recommendation related to the resolution of any differences between concepts of accountability within the public health system, especially in relation to matters concerning the salaried specialists. The committee requested that these differences be resolved to the satisfaction of the Auditor-General and that the Assembly be advised of this accordingly.

Mr Speaker, the Government has now had the opportunity to consider the committee's report and its recommendations. Against this background, I am pleased to be able to table the Government's response today. Members will note that the Government's response addresses each of the committee's recommendations and provides information on issues such as the outcome of the medical officers agreement for 1997 to 1999, which was signed on 19 September 1998 (the medical officers agreement includes various conditions which will improve productivity and efficiency, particularly in relation to the

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