Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN

With regard to the recent announcements made by the Premier following the last COAG meeting indicating he would be partnering with Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, to consider reforms to make the health system operate more effectively:

(1)  What are the terms of reference the premiers are considering?

(2) Will their considerations for reform consider all aspects of health services delivery, including health and human service delivery?

(3) Who in the Tasmanian Government is being tasked with leading this work?

(4) How will the Government undertake consultation, and who will be actively engaged in the process considering any proposed reforms?

ANSWER

Mr President, I thank the honourable member for Murchison for her question.

(1)  Consistent with the communiqué from the Australian Leaders' Retreat, the Victorian and Tasmanian premiers will be progressing health reform in two broad streams of work.  One work stream will be focusing on primary care and keeping people out of hospital through better management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and mental health.  The other work stream will consider extending Medicare to cover treatment in hospitals.

(2)  The work will consider the issues necessary to provide more detailed advice to COAG later in the year on how to give effect to the agreed areas of reform.

(3)  The Victorian and Tasmanian Premiers are jointly responsible for driving the work program and reporting back to COAG.  All relevant departments are engaged in supporting the Premier on this work.

(4)  Following extensive public consultation by the Commonwealth in relation to the green paper, COAG members are completing an intensive program of work in the lead up to the leaders' next meeting later this year.  It is likely that following this work, there will be further consultation early next year.

Ms FORREST question to LEADER of the GOVERNMENT in the LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, Dr GOODWIN

[2.35 p.m.]

In the answer to question 3, who within the Tasmanian Government has been tasked with leading this work, I would have expected there be some person who would be actually leading and coordinating the work.  That is the question I was asking, rather than a broad, 'all these people will be involved.'  You would hope there would be someone actually guiding and leading that body of work.  I will put it to the Leader on notice to provide some more detail.  If there is no one being tasked to actually lead it, how is it going to operate effectively?  Maybe I need to put that to her before tomorrow.

ANSWER

Mr President, I will take that as a supplementary and see if we can get any further detail around that specific issue.