Page 44 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 27 November 2012
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pool accounts as per their normal arrangements which will be audited by the relevant state-territory auditor-general.
At its core this bill provides for the ACT’s participation in a national scheme that reforms how public hospitals are funded. The national health funding pool, a central component of the scheme, became operational on 1 July 2012. The ACT has not had legislation in place to use the pool, and instead has utilised alternative arrangements with the commonwealth until the legislation is passed here in the ACT. Passage of this bill will allow the ACT to use the national health funding pool as required by the agreement.
It is also important to note that, whilst the national health funding pool commenced functioning on 1 July 2012, the commonwealth will not begin to contribute to the efficient growth funding for public hospitals until 2014-15. Therefore, there is no additional commonwealth public hospital funding that will flow through the national health funding pool when it is initially established. Instead, a portion of the current healthcare specific purpose payment will flow through the national health funding pool.
It is also important to note that the national health funding pool relates to national health reform funding set out in the national agreement. However, local hospital networks may also receive funding from other sources that are outside the scope of this agreement.
The bill forms a critical component of a suite of national reforms being delivered under the national healthcare reform agreement that represent a major step forward in addressing changing and growing healthcare needs. More specifically, this bill will provide the necessary administrative machinery to allow the ACT to receive that significant additional funding from the commonwealth for the purposes of our public hospital network. Supplementing the additional funding, the bill provides for improved transparency and accountability in relation to public hospital funds.
The bill provides for an important reform and delivers significant financial benefits to the ACT for the provision of our public hospital services. I commend the bill to the Assembly.
Debate (on motion by Mr Hanson) adjourned to the next sitting.
Road Transport (Third-Party Insurance) Amendment Bill 2012
Mr Barr, by leave, presented the bill, its explanatory statement and a Human Rights Act compatibility statement.
Title read by Clerk.
MR BARR (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Treasurer, Minister for Economic Development, Minister for Sport and Recreation, Minister for Tourism and Events and Minister for Community Services) (11.29): I move:
That this bill be agreed to in principle.
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