Additional Comments - Coalition Senators

1.1Coalition Senators support the intent behind the legislative changes contained in the bill, recognising the important role nurses play in our healthcare system and the potential benefits of sensibly expanding scope of practice.

1.2The bill proposes changes which are consistent with the recommendations in the Unleashing the Potential of our Health Workforce: Scope of Practice Review.

1.3However, Coalition Senators note that the Australian Government has so far failed to provide a fulsome, formal response to this review , in spite of the fact that it was commissioned by the Government and finalised 18 months ago.

1.4While we wait for the formal response, the Australian Government’s approach to scope of practice reform to date has been ad-hoc and piecemeal.

1.5Furthermore, the recent Senate Estimates hearings indicated that the Australian Government has not even committed to providing a formal response to this review.

1.6While some of this review’s recommendations require collaboration with the States and Territories, it is the Coalition Senators’ view that a comprehensive response from the Australian Government indicating its intent to each of the recommendations and an indicative timeline for implementation would help provide clearer guidance to stakeholders and the broader public.

1.7This would address concerns raised by other groups as part of the inquiry process as to why some specific changes to scope of practice are being implemented while others are seemingly being ignored.

Senator Wendy Askew

Liberal Senator for Tasmania