Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda

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HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (HEALTH CARE AGREEMENTS) BILL 1998

13629  Cat. No. 97 2804 X  ISBN 0644 518553


1998

THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
















HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT
(HEALTH CARE AGREEMENTS) BILL 1998




SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

Amendment to be moved on behalf of the Government
















(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Health and Family Services,
the Hon. Dr Michael Wooldridge, MP)

HEALTH LEGISLATION AMENDMENT
(HEALTH CARE AGREEMENTS) BILL 1998

Amendment to be moved on behalf of the Government


OUTLINE

The purpose of this amendment is to facilitate giving effect to the Government's commitment following the Premiers' Conference to honour in full the offer it made to the States on the Australian Health Care Agreements.

FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The amendment is not expected to have any net financial impact.

NOTES ON AMENDMENTS

Amendment (1)

Amends Item 12 of Schedule 1 by inserting a note after proposed new section 24 to the effect that the purpose of Part III is modified by the operation of proposed new section 28 if a State has not entered into an agreement before 2 June 1998.

Amendment (2)

Amends Item 12 of Schedule 1 by modifying the definition of “agreement” in proposed new section 25 to provide that an agreement made under proposed new section 26 includes an agreement under section 26 as varied by the operation of proposed new section 28.

Amendment (3)

Amends Item 12 of Schedule 1 by replacing the proposed new section 28 with a new section 28 which provides that:

(1) financial assistance is payable to a State under Part III of the Act in respect of 1998-99 and later years if an agreement is entered into under the proposed new section 26 of the Act before 2 June 1998

(2) financial assistance may be payable under an annual appropriation Act in respect of 1998-99, on terms and conditions determined by the Minister in writing, but including terms and conditions requiring adherence to the Health Care Agreement Principles set out in the proposed new section 29 of the Act, to a State that has not entered into an agreement under the proposed new section 26 of the Act before 2 June 1998

(3) financial assistance is payable to a State under Part III of the Act in respect of 1999-2000 and later years if an agreement is entered into under the proposed new section 26 on or after 2 June 1998 and before 1 July 1999

(4) any reference in Part III of the Act to the five years starting on 1 July 1998 is to be taken as a reference to the four years starting on 1 July 1999 in the case of a State that enters into an agreement on or after 2 June 1998 and before 1 July 1999.

This will allow the Commonwealth to provide funding in 1998-99 to States that fail to enter into an agreement before 2 June, while still allowing them to enter into an agreement after that time to apply in 1999-2000 and later years.

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