Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches Northern Territory Second Reading Speeches[Index] [Search] [Bill] [Help]
| Mr VATSKALIS: Madam Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time. The purpose of this bill is to remove a consequential amendment from the Health Practitioner (National Uniform Legislation) Implementation Act 2010. The consequential amendment would insert a new provision for the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act that would link authorisations under that Act to health practitioner’s registration under the Health Practitioner National Law (national law) being endorsed for scheduled medicines by the relevant national board. It was envisaged health practitioners would be endorsed under section 94 of the national law to deal with scheduled medicines, and that an authorisation under the Poisons and Dangerous Drugs Act should be subject to this endorsement. This was seen to be a mechanism for ensuring our health practitioners met national standards when dealing with scheduled medicines. It has now become apparent that endorsements under section 94 of the national law would not operate as broadly as expected. An endorsement for scheduled medicines will only be issued for extended and/or advanced practice that it is over and above a health practitioner’s professional qualification. As is current practice, health practitioners will continue to operate under the scope of their professional qualification with section 94 endorsements granted only where advanced or extended qualifications related to scheduled medicines have been obtained. Consequential amendments were intended to ensure the national scheme operates effectively and achieves its principal objective of protecting the public within the Northern Territory. They were never meant to place unnecessary requirements on health practitioners. I commend this bill to honourable members, and table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill. Motion agreed to; debate adjourned. |