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  4. 21 June 2001

Business Of The House

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SpeakersWhelan Mr Paul; Hartcher Mr Chris
BusinessSuspension of Orders


    BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

Page: 15032
    Precedence of Business: Suspension of Standing and Sessional Orders

    Mr WHELAN (Strathfield—Minister for Police) [11.25 a.m.]: I move:
        That standing and sessional orders be suspended to permit the resumption of debate on the Workers Compensation Legislation Amendment Bill (No 2) and the Health Care Liability Bill forthwith.
    Much has already been said about workers compensation. The Opposition has been briefed about the details of the bill, which has been before this House and the upper House since March. The amendments have been circulated widely and they have been available. It is absolutely vital that the Health Care Liability Bill proceed today. If it is not dealt with expeditiously, obstetricians and gynaecologists may no longer work in our hospitals, rural hospitals in particular. I urge honourable members to agree to the motion. It is important that obstetricians and gynaecologists be given an incentive to remain in the hospital system to ensure continued hospital care in New South Wales.

    Mr HARTCHER (Gosford) [11.27 a.m.]: It is correct that notice of the Health Care Liability Bill was given in March, but it was not read or supplied to the Opposition. No-one had seen it. It was a single-line item on notice while the Government argued about what course of action to adopt. The Minister introduced it into this House late on Tuesday night and delivered his second reading speech. It is an extremely complex and significant bill. The Coalition is determined to ensure that doctors retain their rights to practise in New South Wales, especially in rural and regional New South Wales. We are concerned about the ongoing implications of the rising costs of medical insurance premiums.

    The Coalition has indicated that it will support any sensible and reasonable measure to ensure the rights of doctors to continue their practice, and the retention of obstetric and gynaecological services in country New South Wales. Accordingly, we will look very carefully at any proposed legislation to ensure that it guarantees their continued right to practice. However, the legislation was introduced barely 36 hours ago. It has not been considered properly. The Government has not had an opportunity to properly consider it. The Government could allow the normal process to take its course—Standing Order 198 provides five clear days after its introduction—to allow us to reply.

    But the Government is trying to railroad the legislation through this House and deny proper and careful consideration of detailed and important legislation. Accordingly, we do not agree to suspension of standing orders, not because we are not concerned about the doctors, not because we are not concerned about rural New South Wales—we are deeply concerned about them both—but because we are concerned to ensure that any legislation that is introduced produces the best result for them, that it is appropriate and that it really looks after them. We do not rely upon, nor do we trust, the word of the Government.

    The Government has introduced two different workers compensation bills in the space of three months. The Government is deeply divided over issues such as workers compensation and does not have a clear picture of where it wants to go; it merely responds to pressure from various quarters. The Opposition must be afforded an opportunity to properly consider the proposed legislation. Only then will it be in a position to ensure that the legislation is right. The Opposition opposes the motion to suspend standing and sessional orders to bring on debate on these bills. We want five clear days to enable the Opposition shadow Minister for Health to consult with interested parties, to give proper attention to the legislation and, at the end of that period, to be in a position to state the Coalition's position on the detail of the bill.

    I appreciate the Government's pressing need to get the workers compensation legislation through Parliament. It has an uneasy unity in its Caucus at the moment, and does not want that fragility to be disrupted. The Government does not want the left wing of the party to rise in revolt; it wants to keep the left wing locked in. Therefore, it must get the workers compensation legislation through Parliament quickly. The Opposition understands that imperative. The motion has nothing to do with the good government of this State. Nothing is ever related to the good government of this State; everything is related to the internal dynamics of the Australian Labor Party.

    The Opposition is used to that. We are not surprised that the Government has moved to suspend standing and sessional orders to get the workers compensation legislation through the House quickly, while the left wing is still available to support it. There is no similar expectation about the Health Care Liability bill. That must receive proper and careful consideration. If it does not receive proper and careful consideration in this House, simply because of the Government using its numbers, the Coalition will make sure it receives proper and careful consideration in the Legislative Council. The Coalition will make sure that any changes to the law will benefit of doctors and country New South Wales and are in the best interests of the people of this State.

    Question—That the motion be agreed to—put.

    The House divided.
    Ayes, 47
            Mr Amery
            Ms Andrews
            Mr Aquilina
            Mr Ashton
            Ms Beamer
            Mr Black
            Mr Brown
            Miss Burton
            Mr Campbell
            Mr Collier
            Mr Crittenden
            Mr Debus
            Mr Face
            Mr Greene
            Mrs Grusovin
            Ms Harrison            		Mr Hickey
            Mr Hunter
            Mr Iemma
            Mr Knowles
            Mrs Lo Po'
            Mr Lynch
            Mr Markham
            Mr Martin
            Mr McBride
            Mr McManus
            Ms Meagher
            Ms Megarrity
            Mr Mills
            Mr Moss
            Mr Newell
            Ms Nori            		Mr Orkopoulos
            Mr Price
            Dr Refshauge
            Ms Saliba
            Mr Scully
            Mr W. D. Smith
            Mr Stewart
            Mr Tripodi
            Mr Watkins
            Mr West
            Mr Whelan
            Mr Woods
            Mr Yeadon
            Tellers,
            Mr Anderson
            Mr Thompson

    Noes, 37
            Mr Armstrong
            Mr Barr
            Mr Brogden
            Mrs Chikarovski
            Mr Collins
            Mr Debnam
            Mr George
            Mr Glachan
            Mr Hartcher
            Mr Hazzard
            Ms Hodgkinson
            Mr Humpherson
            Dr Kernohan            		Mr Kerr
            Mr Maguire
            Mr McGrane
            Mr Merton
            Ms Moore
            Mr O'Doherty
            Mr O'Farrell
            Mr Oakeshott
            Mr Piccoli
            Mr Richardson
            Mr Rozzoli
            Ms Seaton
            Mrs Skinner            		Mr Slack-Smith
            Mr Souris
            Mr Stoner
            Mr Tink
            Mr Torbay
            Mr J. H. Turner
            Mr R. W. Turner
            Mr Webb
            Mr Windsor

            Tellers,
            Mr Fraser
            Mr R. H. L. Smith
    Question resolved in the affirmative.

    Motion agreed to.

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