SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE: REVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORT INTO HYPNOSIS

The Hon. P.L. WHITE (Taylor) (11:55): I move:

That the 29^th report of the committee, entitled a Review of the Department of Health Report into Hypnosis, be noted.

It is important to note at the outset that the practice of hypnosis in South Australia is regulated by the Psychological Practices Act 1973. Section 39 of this act restricts the practice of hypnosis to certain registered professions; namely, psychologists, medical practitioners and dentists and, under particular conditions, to individual prescribed persons. In September 2006, the state government introduced the Psychological Practice Bill to, among other things, remove this restriction.

At that time, some parties raised concerns that the bill, if passed, would make it possible for untrained and unqualified individuals to legally carry out hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Those concerns prompted the Department of Health to commission its report, and the Social Development Committee was asked to review the department's report in the context of its ongoing inquiry into bogus, unregistered and deregistered health practitioners. Specifically on 7 May 2008, the House of Assembly resolved on a motion of the Minister for Health that the Department of Health's report be referred to the committee for its examination.

While the committee's examination of the report occurred at the same time as its inquiry into bogus, unregistered and deregistered health practitioners, the committee considered the issue separately. Given the limited scope of this term of reference, the committee also decided that it was not necessary to advertise this matter in the print media. Instead, the committee placed relevant information on its website and sought input from a number of relevant stakeholders.

Before going further, I take this opportunity to thank the other members of the committee for their contribution: the Hons Ian Hunter, Dennis Hood and Stephen Wade from the other place; and, from this chamber, Mr Adrian Pederick and Ms Lindsay Simmons. I also thank the staff of the Social Development Committee for their contribution: our research officer Sue Markotic and our secretary Robyn Schutte.

While hypnosis can be difficult to define, the committee was told that it is generally considered to be an altered state of consciousness in which an individual has an increased susceptibility to suggestion. Evidence suggests that hypnosis can be a useful adjunct to psychological therapy. It may also assist in the management of a range of symptoms and conditions, including chronic pain, obesity and sleep disorders.

The Department of Health's report notes that the introduction of the Psychological Practice Bill in 2006 needs to be viewed in the context of the National Competition Policy Agreement principles. Those principles state, amongst other things, that legislation should not restrict competition unless it can be demonstrated that it is in the public interest to do so.

Debate adjourned.