Health and Community Services Complaints (Budget Report) Amendment Bill

Second Reading

Adjourned debate on second reading.

(Continued from 11 February 2016.)

The Hon. S.G. WADE (17:29): I rise to indicate the Liberal Party will support the Health and Community Services Complaints (Budget Report) Amendment Bill 2015. The bill seeks to amend the Health and Community Services Complaints Act 2004 by repealing section 15 and therefore removing the requirement of the Economic and Finance Committee to review the commission's annual budget. Currently, section 15 requires that the commission's proposed budget for a financial year be examined by the Economic and Finance Committee of the parliament by the end of the preceding calendar year.

The Liberal Party, in considering this bill, has consulted with a range of stakeholders. Originally, the requirement was put in place to support accountability. It is noteworthy that the Economic and Finance Committee does not currently examine the budget of any other statutory officer. The opposition considers that accountability of the commissioner and of the government as funder is adequately ensured by other mechanisms. The commissioner is already required to give an annual report to the parliament which includes information on the budget and the actual expenditure of the commissioner.

Additionally, the requirement has proven to be impractical. As highlighted by the commissioner, it is impossible to ensure that the information required by the act is always provided, given that the office budget is often not confirmed until October of the year. Secondly, functions of the Economic and Finance Committee are not consistent with the requirement to undertake an examination such as this. Similarly, the Social Development Committee is not a suitable body to be dealing with such a review. In this context, the Liberal Party supports the suggested amendments and the referral of the responsibility on the committee.

In closing, I would like to affirm the important work of the commissioner. All members of this place and the other place would have contact with constituents in relation to their concerns in relation to health and community services, and the commissioner undertakes an invaluable role for both parliamentarians and society in providing practical advice about health-related issues and a review mechanism which ensures that health and community service users are provided with the opportunities to have their issues and concerns addressed.

Debate adjourned on motion of Hon. T.T. Ngo.