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1997
THE COMMONWEALTH OF
AUSTRALIA
SENATE
HEARING
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BILL 1997
HEARING SERVICES AND AGHS
REFORM BILL 1997
SUPPLEMENTARY EXPLANATORY
MEMORANDUM
Amendments to be moved on behalf of the
Government
(Circulated by authority
of the Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for Health and Family
Services, Senator the Hon. Christopher Ellison)
81056 Cat.
No. 96 7490 X ISBN 0644 500190
HEARING SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BILL
1997
and
HEARING SERVICES AND AGHS REFORM BILL
1997
OUTLINE
The Hearing Services and AGHS Reform Bill 1997 currently
before the Senate deals with two matters: (1) transitional provisions relating
to the proposed corporatisation of the Australian Government Health Service
(AGHS); and (2) consequential amendments to the Hearing Services Act 1991
arising from reforms to the Hearing Services Program being introduced by the
Hearing Services Administration Bill 1997.
The proposed changes to
hearing services legislation is the subject of a recent report by the Senate
Community Affairs Legislation Committee.
The intention of the
Government's amendments is to withdraw from the Hearing Services and AGHS
Reform Bill 1997 the proposed change in the age cut-off for younger people
eligible for concessions under the Hearing Services program from 21 to 18 years.
The amendments would omit from the Hearing Services and AGHS Reform
Bill 1997 those provisions relating to this eligibility change and
substitute the term “young Australians” for “Australian
children”.
There is one consequential amendment in the
Hearing Services Administration Bill 1997.
Apart from this
matter there are no substantive changes to either Bill.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The amendment will place an additional cost of $0.5m annually on the
hearing services program.
HEARING SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BILL
1997
(Amendments to be moved on behalf of the
Government)
Amendment to clause 5
The amendment
is consequential to that proposed for the Hearing Services and AGHS Reform
Bill 1997 which omits the change in eligibility for young Australian to
receive concessions under the Hearing Services Program.
HEARING
SERVICES AND AGHS REFORM BILL 1997
(Amendments to be moved on behalf of the
Government)
Amendment 1 - omits Item
5
Item 5 of Schedule 1 reduces the age
limit for younger people to receive hearing services from 21 to 18 years of age.
This amendments omits this
item.
Amendment 2 - amends Item
24
This amendment substitutes the term
'young Australians' for 'Australian children' on the basis that this is a more
appropriate generic description of those up to the age of 21
years.
Amendment 3 - amends Item
29
This amendment substitutes the term
'young Australians' for 'Australian children' on the basis that this is a more
appropriate generic description of those up to the age of 21
years.
Amendment 4 - amends Item 29
This amendment
substitutes the term 'young Australians' for 'Australian
children' on the basis that this is a more appropriate generic description of
those up to the age of 21
years.
Amendment 5 - amends Item
29
This amendment omits the definition
of 'Australian children' and is consequential to amendments 2-4
above.
Amendment 6 - amends Item 29
This amendment
inserts a definition for the term 'young Australians'
appropriate to amendments 2-4 above.