Page 2750 - Week 08 - Thursday, 11 August 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
The way that the bill is structured is the same as the Queensland and New South Wales acts. This amendment is trying to unpick this structure, and I believe it will undermine the integrity of the scheme. Section 6 of the Queensland act reads:
This Act overrides the provisions of other Acts prohibiting the disclosure of information (however described).
Why the ACT act should not work in the same way I do not believe has been clearly articulated, and I do not think that Mr Corbell’s explanation of why it is necessary—and why his concerns cannot be dealt with, with the additions to schedule 1—makes the case to support these amendments. So I will not be supporting amendments Nos 2 and 63 today.
MRS DUNNE (Ginninderra) (12.04): This is one of the amendments where I am genuinely torn. The provision that this act overrides the provision of any other law that prohibits the disclosure of information is one that gives me some concern. But I am also mindful of the fact that this is a provision which is reflected in much of the other legislation that has this push model.
I did say last night that I would support both of these government amendments. I have been reconsidering, and the option is open to me to not support amendment No 2 but support amendment No 63 because, as Mr Rattenbury has said, the other additions to schedule 1 should provide the protections that are necessary.
However, I am often criticised as being a conservative. In this case I will take the conservative approach and support both of these government amendments but I will—and I have said that I will do this in a number of places—use as a pointer to those of us who will be reviewing this legislation again that this is an area that might need to be revisited.
I am significantly torn about the meaning of clause 12 as it currently stands, but I also see that it has some utility in this space. However, to take the more cautious approach, I will be supporting Mr Corbell’s amendments Nos 2 and 63.
Amendments agreed to.
MR CORBELL (Molonglo—Deputy Chief Minister, Attorney-General, Minister for Health, Minister for Police and Emergency Services and Minister for the Environment and Climate Change) (12.06): I seek leave to move amendments Nos 3 and 58 circulated in my name together.
Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: I move amendments Nos 3 and 58 circulated in my name together [see schedule 2 at page 2854]. They deal with special exemptions for health records.
In regard to health records, these amendments ensure beyond any doubt that this law will not apply to information contained in health records under the Health Records
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video