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2010-2011
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM AMENDMENT (NATIONAL HEALTH
PERFORMANCE AUTHORITY) BILL 2011
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Health and Ageing,
the Hon. Nicola Roxon, MP)
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION 2
FINANCIAL IMPACT 2
REGULATORY IMPACT 3
COMMENCEMENT 3
SCHEDULE 1 -AMENDMENTS 4
AMENDMENTS TO THE LONG AND SHORT TITLES 4
AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 - PRELIMINARY 5
AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 2 - AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION ON SAFETY AND
QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE 6
ADDITION OF CHAPTER 3 - NATIONAL HEALTH PERFORMANCE AUTHORITY 8
ADDITION OF CHAPTER 4 - MISCELLANEOUS 15
NOTES
In this Explanatory Memorandum, a reference to a section in bold italics (section 60)
is a reference to a section as it will appear in the National Health Reform Act 2011 as
amended by this Bill.
A reference to an item in bold type (item 120) is a reference to an item in Schedule 1
of this Bill.
A reference to "the States" includes the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern
Territory, and a reference to "State" includes a reference to either of the Territories.
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NATIONAL HEALTH REFORM AMENDMENT (NATIONAL
HEALTH PERFORMANCE AUTHORITY) BILL 2011
INTRODUCTION
This Bill is intended to establish the National Health Performance Authority
("Performance Authority") envisaged by the National Health and Hospitals Network
Agreement as settled by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) meeting in
April 2010 and reconfirmed in the Heads of Agreement - National Health Reform of
13 February 2011. Clause 68 of the Heads of Agreement - National Health Reform
provides that the Heads of Agreement will lapse after all parties sign the National
Health Reform Agreement.
The National Health Reform Bill 2010 will establish the Australian Commission on
Safety and Quality in Health Care ("the Commission"). If it is enacted it will become
the National Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011. The current Bill amends that
Act to change the title, divide the Act into Chapters and add several new Chapters.
Broadly the changes will involve:
· changing the title of the Act to the National Health Reform Act 2011,
reflecting the outcomes of the COAG meeting of 13 February 2011;
· amending Chapter 1 to change the objects of the Act to include reference to
the Performance Authority, and to include a number of new definitions related
to the new authority;
· amending Chapter 2 dealing with the Commission to distinguish between
provisions relating to the members and Chief Executive Officer of the
Commission and the new authority, and to introduce provisions relating to
secrecy and disclosure of information by the Commission;
· adding a new Chapter 3 to establish the Performance Authority;
· adding a new Chapter 4 with miscellaneous machinery provisions.
The Government intends to introduce further legislation to amend the Act to establish
the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority after further consultation with the States.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
In the 2010-11 Budget the Government allocated funding of $118.6 million for the
Performance Authority over four years as shown in the table below.
Expense ($m)
2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14
Performance Authority 22.3 23.6 29.4 34.2
The Government also decided to offset part of the cost of the new arrangements by
adjusting funding for the existing Hospital Accountability and Performance Program
to ensure there is no duplication. This offset will provide a saving of $9.1 million
($5.1 million in 2011-12 and $3.9 million in 2012-13), resulting in an estimated net
cost of the Performance Authority of $109.5 million over four years.
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REGULATORY IMPACT
These measures will not have a regulatory impact on business and individuals or the
economy.
COMMENCEMENT
Clause 2 in the Bill provides that the Bill, apart from the schedules, commences on
the day the Bill receives Royal Assent.
Schedule 1, which contains the substance of the amendments and new provisions in
the Bill, commences on proclamation on a day which must be later than the day on
which section 3 (the first substantive section) of the National Health and Hospitals
Network Act 2011 commences. A contingent commencement provision of this nature
is required as the Act to be amended has not yet achieved passage through Parliament.
However, if the Schedule is not proclaimed within six months of the later of:
· the day after the Bill receives Royal Assent, or
· the day on which section 3 of the National Health and Hospitals Network Act
2011 commences,
then the amendments commence on the next day.
The Government intends to set a date by proclamation which will allow the members
of the Performance Authority to be appointed (under section 4 of the
Acts Interpretation Act 1901) before the authority comes into being.
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SCHEDULE 1 -AMENDMENTS
National Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011
AMENDMENTS TO THE LONG AND SHORT TITLES
Items 1 and 2 amend the long title of the Act to remove the reference to the National
Health and Hospitals Network, and amend the short title to National Health Reform
Act 2011, consistent with the outcome of the COAG meeting of 13 February 2011.
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AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 1 - PRELIMINARY
A new objects section [section 3] and simplified outline [section 4] are added by
items 4 and 5 in Schedule 1 of the Bill. (Item 3 inserts a Chapter heading for
Chapter 1.)
A series of largely self-explanatory amendments to existing definitions and insertions
of new definitions are made to section 5 by items 6 to 35.
The definition of "local hospital network" inserted by item 15 includes a capacity for
the Minister to declare entities and facilities to be local hospital networks even if they
are not a body corporate established by a State and known as a local hospital network.
This is because some States have indicated a desire to use different terminology, or
establish local hospital networks on a non-statutory basis. In at least one jurisdiction
the State proposes to treat a network of hospitals established by a religious order on
the same basis as hospital networks created under State law. Without this amendment
that network could not be treated as a local hospital network under the Act.
Items 26 and 29 insert definitions of "private hospital" and "public hospital" as
facilities specified by the Minister in a legislative instrument.
These definitions will mainly be used by the Performance Authority in determining
the scope of their work. However, they will also apply in subsection 20(3), which
sets out the qualifications for appointment of members of the Commission Board, and
provides for members with expertise in the general management of public or private
hospitals. To ensure the validity of an appointment by the Minister of Commission
Board members using section 4 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 after Royal Assent
to the National Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011 but before this Schedule
comes into effect, transitional item 131 provides that the terms "private hospital" and
"public hospital" are taken to have had their ordinary meanings.
The definitions of "protected Commission information" and "protected Performance
Authority information" at items 27 and 28 are used in the secrecy and information
disclosure provisions relating to these bodies.
Amendments made to section 6 dealing with vacancies have the effect of setting the
minimum number of members of the Performance Authority at seven (including the
Chair and Deputy Chair) (items 36 to 39).
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AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 2 - AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION ON
SAFETY AND QUALITY IN HEALTH CARE
A new section 7A is added setting out a simplified outline of the Chapter (item 40 of
Schedule 1 to the Bill).
A series of other mainly technical amendments are made by items 41 to 129 of
Schedule 1 to the Bill to divide the Chapter into Parts and to change references to
Chair, Board, board member and CEO to "Commission Chair" etc, to distinguish
them from the Chair, members and CEO of the new Performance Authority.
Item 125 repeals subsections 52(5) and (6) in the Act, which provide that reports and
information prepared by the Commission in response to a request from the Minister
are not legislative instruments. This is because the provisions are unnecessary, as the
documents are clearly not legislative instruments.
Item 127 adds a new Part 2.7 dealing with secrecy and disclosure of information in
relation to the Commission. This Part provides that a person that is or has been an
official of the Commission (including members, the CEO, staff and consultants) and
has obtained information in the course of their work relating to another person
("protected information") commits an offence if they disclose or use the information,
unless the disclosure or use is authorised by Part 2.7 or is compliant with another
Commonwealth or a prescribed State law [subsections 54A(1) and (2)].
It also provides that a person who is a member of a committee established by the
Commission under section 50 and who receives protected Commission information
under subsection 54C(1) commits an offence if they disclose or use the information,
unless the disclosure or use is for the purposes of the Act, including the performance
of the functions of the committee, or is in the course of the person's service on the
committee [subsections 54C(2) and (3)].
The penalty for the offences (two years imprisonment or 120 penalty units or both) is
consistent with penalties for similar offences under other health legislation such as the
National Health Act 1953, Health Insurance Act 1973 and Private Health Insurance
Act 2007 and reflects the potential seriousness of improper use or disclosure of
protected information.
Under subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code a defendant being prosecuted for this
offence and wishing to rely on an exception is required to demonstrate that disclosure
was covered by one of the exceptions to the offence. It would be difficult for the
prosecution to bear the burden of demonstrating that the disclosure was not covered
by one of the exceptions, whereas a person disclosing information should reasonably
be aware of the basis for their disclosure.
An official of the Commission is not to be required to produce or disclose protected
information to a court or tribunal except where it is necessary for giving effect to the
Act [subsection 54A(3)].
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The exceptions from the offence set out in the Part include:
· disclosure or use for the purposes of the Act, for the performance of the
Commission's functions, or in the course of the official's employment or
service with the Commission [section 54B];
· disclosure to a Commission committee [section 54C];
· disclosure to the Minister [section 54D];
· disclosure to the Treasurer [section 54E];
· disclosure to the Secretary or an APS employee of the Department authorised
to receive it [section 54F];
· disclosure to a Royal Commission (in which case the Chair of the Commission
can impose conditions on the use of the information) [section 54G];
· disclosure of information about the affairs of a person if the person has
consented [section 54K];
· disclosure of information that is already lawfully publicly available
[section 54L].
The conditions that may be imposed under section 54G are not a legislative
instrument as they are limited to the particular case, and are not a general statement of
the law.
There are two other exceptions. If the Chair of the Commission is satisfied that
particular protected information will assist one of a number of specified agencies,
bodies or individuals to perform or exercise their powers or functions an authorised
officer may disclose that information. However, the recipient of the protected
information must not use it for a purpose other than that for which it was given
[section 54H].
Similarly, if the Chair of the Commission is satisfied that particular protected
information will assist an agency, body or person to conduct research an authorised
officer may disclose that information, providing that the information is not likely to
enable the identification of a particular patient [section 54J].
The Chair of the Commission may delegate any function or powers under this Part to
the Commission CEO, who must comply with any directions from the Chair in
exercising the delegation [section 54M].
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ADDITION OF CHAPTER 3 - NATIONAL HEALTH PERFORMANCE
AUTHORITY
Outline of Chapter
The Chapter (added by item 130 of Schedule 1 to the Bill) establishes the National
Health Performance Authority (the "Performance Authority"), and provides for its
functions, powers, membership, committees, staffing and some elements of its
procedures.
The Performance Authority is an important part of the national health reform agenda,
and will provide independent monitoring and reporting of the performance of
important elements of the health system.
Detailed Explanation
Part 3.1 - Introduction provides an outline of the Chapter [section 58].
Part 3.2 - Performance Authority's establishment, functions, powers and
liabilities
This Part establishes the Performance Authority as a statutory authority [section 59]
and sets out its functions [section 60].
These functions include monitoring and reporting on the performance of local hospital
networks, public and private hospitals, primary health care organisations and other
bodies that provide health care services, and publishing such reports.
Other functions include formulating performance indicators, collecting, analysing and
interpreting performance information, and promoting, supporting, encouraging,
conducting and evaluating research. The Minister may also specify functions for the
Performance Authority, and request advice about particular matters
[paragraphs 60(1)(f) and (g)].
The Minister may make a legislative instrument setting out rules for the Performance
Authority in monitoring performance and preparing and publishing reports
[section 65].
Subsection 60(2) clarifies that hospital services provided in a hospital are taken to be
provided by a hospital. This ensures that services provided by doctors who are not
employed by a hospital are taken into account in reporting on the hospital's
performance.
Subsection 60(3) clarifies that the Performance Authority may make use of
performance indicators and standards other than those it has formulated itself in
monitoring and reporting on performance. The performance indicators it formulates
may draw on any other specified material, as it exists at a particular time or as it is
varied [section 63]. This will ensure that the Performance Authority can draw on the
work of other bodies working in the area, and avoid the administrative burden of
reformulating indicators as they are varied by other bodies.
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The Minister may make a legislative instrument directing the Performance Authority
to formulate performance indicators about a particular matter [section 66].
Subsection 60(4) clarifies that formulations of performance indicators by the
Performance Authority are not legislative instruments. This is because they do not
state the law, in that they do not impose duties or obligations on any person.
Subsection 60(5) provides that instruments made by the Minister specifying functions
for the Performance Authority are not subject to the operation of the Legislative
Instruments Act 2003. While these instruments do impose legal obligations on the
Performance Authority, they are not general statements of the law applying to any
other person. It is expected that the Minister will usually be making these instruments
at the request of the Australian Health Ministers' Conference or to give effect to
COAG agreements. It is not appropriate that instruments giving effect to
intergovernmental agreements to confer additional functions on the Performance
Authority should be subject to disallowance.
In carrying out its functions the Performance Authority is to have regard to relevant
intergovernmental agreements and COAG decisions, but may have regard to other
matters [section 61]. Once the National Health Reform Agreement foreshadowed at
the COAG meeting on 13 February 2011 is concluded, this section will require the
Performance Authority to have regard to the Agreement.
If the Performance Authority prepares a report which shows poor performance by a
local hospital network, a public or a private hospital, a primary health care
organisations or another body that provides health care services it must give a draft to
the manager of the entity or facility and invite written comments within 30 days
before finalising the report. This is intended to ensure that managers of health entities
or facilities are aware of any potential adverse reports by the Performance Authority,
and have an opportunity to provide mitigating information [section 62].
The Constitutional limits for the Performance Authority's functions are set out in
section 64.
The Performance Authority is given the power to do all things necessary or
convenient to be done in performing its functions. As a Commonwealth body it
contracts, holds assets and incurs liabilities, and receives money on behalf of the
Commonwealth, and has the privileges and immunities of the Crown in right of the
Commonwealth [sections 67 to 69].
Part 3.3 - Constitution and membership of the Performance Authority
This part establishes the Performance Authority as a body corporate with a seal, able
to deal with property and sue and be sued. Judicial bodies and officers are to take
judicial notice of the seal [section 70].
The Performance Authority is to consist of a Chair, a Deputy Chair and five other
members [section 71].
The Minister is responsible for appointing all the Board members, including the
Chair. The Deputy Chair must be appointed with the agreement of the State Premiers.
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The five other members must be appointed with the agreement of the Prime Minister
and the State Premiers. At least one member of the Performance Authority must have
substantial experience or knowledge of, and significant standing in, regional or rural
health care. Members of the Performance Authority can be appointed on either a
full-time or part-time basis [section 72].
A member can be appointed for up to a maximum five year period [section 73], but
may be re-appointed.
The Minister may appoint persons to act as Chair, Deputy Chair or member of the
Performance Authority during vacancies or when appointed members are absent
[section 74].
Part 3.4 - Terms and conditions for members of the Performance Authority
Persons appointed to the Performance Authority are to receive remuneration as
determined by the Remuneration Tribunal, and allowances as prescribed in the
regulations [section 75]. Full-time members are entitled to recreation leave as
determined by the Tribunal, and other leave as determined by the Minister, and
part-time members may be granted leave of absence by the Chair [section 79].
Members are required to disclose to the Minister all interests that conflict or may
conflict with their role as a member [section 76]. A member must also inform other
Performance Authority members as soon as they become aware of an interest in a
matter being considered by the Performance Authority, and may not be present or take
part in consideration of the matter unless the other members determine otherwise.
The affected member must not be present or take part in deliberations surrounding a
question of their participation in matters which involve a conflict of interest
[section 77]. Full-time members of the Performance Authority may not take other
paid employment except with the approval of the Minister, and part-time members
may not take part in paid employment if it may conflict with their appointment
[section 78].
Members may resign by writing to the Minister [section 80], and the Minister may
terminate a Performance Authority member's appointment [section 81].
The Minister may determine terms and conditions for Performance Authority
members in relation to matters not dealt with in the Act [section 82].
Part 3.5 - Decision-making by the Performance Authority
The Performance Authority is to hold the meetings necessary to perform its functions,
and the Chair may convene a meeting at any time [section 83]. The Performance
Authority may determine the conduct of meetings subject to this Part, and meetings
must be minuted [sections 88 and 89].
The Chair, or if the Chair is absent, the Deputy Chair, is to preside at meetings. If
both are absent, the members present must appoint a member to preside. Four
members constitute a quorum, and a question is decided by a majority of members
present and voting. The person presiding at the meeting has a casting vote as well as a
deliberative vote [sections 84 to 86].
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The Performance Authority may make a decision outside a meeting if it has decided
on a method for making such decisions in relation to particular matters. Members
who would not have been entitled to take part in such a decision at a meeting, because
of a conflict of interest, are not entitled to take part in an out of meeting decision
[section 87]. This ensures the Performance Authority is able to operate flexibly and
respond rapidly.
Part 3.6 - Delegation by the Performance Authority
The Performance Authority may delegate any or all of its powers and functions (other
than dealing with legislative instruments or advising the Minister) to a member, the
CEO, or an SES or acting SES employee. The delegate must comply with any
directions from the Performance Authority [section 90].
Part 3.7 - Chief Executive Officer of the Performance Authority
There is to be a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for the Performance Authority
(referred to as the Performance Authority CEO) responsible for the day to day
administration of the Performance Authority, acting in accordance with the policies
and directions of the Performance Authority [sections 91 and 92].
However, the Performance Authority cannot direct the Performance Authority CEO in
performing functions or exercising powers under the Financial Management and
Accountability Act 1997 and Public Service Act 1999 [section 126].
The Minister is to appoint the Performance Authority CEO after consulting the
Performance Authority [section 93]. If appointments have been made to the
Performance Authority under section 4 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 before this
section commences, and the Minister consults the people who have been appointed,
the Minister is taken to have consulted the Performance Authority in appointing the
CEO (item 132 in the transitional provisions in Part 2 of Schedule 1 of the Bill).
The Minister may also appoint an acting CEO [section 94], and may determine other
terms and conditions not specified in the Act [section 101]. The Performance
Authority CEO must not engage in other paid employment without approval from the
Minister [section 95] and material personal interests that conflict or may conflict with
her or his position must be disclosed to the Minister and the Performance Authority
[section 98].
The Performance Authority CEO's remuneration and recreation leave conditions will
be determined by the Remuneration Tribunal and allowances will be set in the
regulations. The Minister may grant leave for other reasons [sections 96 and 97].
After consulting the Performance Authority the Minister may terminate the CEO's
appointment in the event of misbehaviour, incapacity, bankruptcy, frequent absence
without leave, concealing a conflict of interest or engaging in unapproved
employment [section 100].
The Minister CEO may resign in writing to the Minister, who must then notify the
Performance Authority [section 99].
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Part 3.8 - Staff and Consultants
Performance Authority staff are to be engaged under the Public Service Act 1999, and
the Performance Authority CEO and staff together constitute a Statutory Agency
under that Act [section 102].
The Performance Authority may also utilise the services of other Commonwealth and
State public servants or employees [section 103]. Similarly, consultants may also be
engaged to assist the Performance Authority [section 104]. The use of personnel
engaged by the Performance Authority, but not directly employed by the
Performance Authority, will enable it to meet different work cycles and scheduling
demands, and is likely to be particularly useful during the establishment phase.
Part 3.9 - Committees
The Performance Authority may establish committees to provide advice or assistance
to the Performance Authority in the performing its functions. The committees may be
made up wholly of Performance Authority members, wholly of persons who are not
members, or a combination of members and non-members. The Performance
Authority may determine terms of reference and procedures for a committee
[section 105] and may assist the subcommittee by providing information and making
available resources and facilities [section 107].
Persons appointed to a committee are to receive remuneration as determined by the
Remuneration Tribunal, and allowances as prescribed in the regulations. However,
members are not entitled to remuneration if they are employed full-time by a State
government [section 106].
Part 3.10 - Reporting obligations of the Performance Authority
The Minister may require the Performance Authority to prepare reports and
documents on particular matters, and may publish these [section 108]. The
Performance Authority is also required to keep the Minister informed of its work, and
provide reports, documents and information regarding its operations to the Minister as
appropriate [section 109].
If the Performance Authority gives advice to the Minister about a particular matter
under paragraph 60(1)(g) the Authority must publish on its website within twelve
months a statement that advice about a matter was provide to the Minister, and when
it was provided [section 110]. This is intended to provide transparency around the
sorts of advice that are sought and provided. It is not intended to require the
Performance Authority to publish the substance of the advice, as this may include
confidential material.
The Performance Authority is to prepare and provide to the Minister an annual report
for presentation to the Parliament [section 111].
Part 3.11 - Planning
The Performance Authority is required to prepare and provide to the Minister a
strategic plan covering the next three years at least once every three years. The plan
must set out the strategies and policies the Performance Authority will follow to
achieve its objectives, as well as any other matters required by the Minister. The first
plan must be prepared in the first year of the Authority's operations.
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The Performance Authority must keep the Minister informed of changes to the plan,
and any matters that might impact on achieving its objectives.
The Minister may give the Performance Authority guidelines on the matters to be
covered by the plan, and the matters that should be reported as affecting achievement
of the Authority's objectives. These guidelines are not legislative instruments, as they
are administrative in character [section 112].
Part 3.12 - Secrecy
A person that is or has been an official of the Performance Authority (including
members, the CEO, staff and consultants) and has obtained information in the course
of their work relating to another person ("protected information") commits an offence
if they disclose or use the information, unless the disclosure or use is authorised by
Part 4.12 or is compliant with another Commonwealth or a prescribed State law
[subsections 113(1) and (2)].
In addition, a person who is a member of a committee established by the Commission
under section 105 and who receives protected Commission information under
subsection 115(1) commits an offence if they disclose or use the information, unless
the disclosure or use is for the purposes of the Act, including the performance of the
functions of the committee, or is in the course of the person's service on the
committee [subsections 115(2) and (3)].
The penalty for the offence (two years imprisonment or 120 penalty units or both) is
consistent with penalties for similar offences under other health legislation such as the
National Health Act 1953, Health Insurance Act 1973 and Private Health Insurance
Act 2007 and reflects the potential seriousness of improper use or disclosure of
protected information.
Under subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code a defendant being prosecuted for this
offence and wishing to rely on an exception is required to demonstrate that disclosure
was covered by one of the exceptions to the offence. It would be difficult for the
prosecution to bear the burden of demonstrating that the disclosure was not covered
by one of the exceptions, whereas a person disclosing information should reasonably
be aware of the basis for their disclosure.
An official of the Performance Authority is not to be required to produce or disclose
protected information to a court or tribunal except where it is necessary for giving
effect to the Act [subsection 113(3)].
The exceptions from the offence set out in the Part include:
· disclosure or use for the purposes of the Act, for the performance of the
Authority's functions, or in the course of the official's employment or service
with the Authority [section 114];
· disclosure to a committee established by the Performance Authority
[section 115];
· disclosure to the Minister [section 116];
· disclosure to the Treasurer [section 117];
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· disclosure to the Secretary or an APS employee of the Department authorised
to receive it [section 118];
· disclosure to a Royal Commission (in which case the Chair of the Performance
Authority can impose conditions on the use of the information) [section 119];
· disclosure of information about the affairs of a person if the person has
consented [section 122];
· disclosure of information that is already lawfully publicly available
[section 123].
The conditions that may be imposed under section 119 are not a legislative instrument
as they are limited to the particular case, and are not a general statement of the law.
There are two other exceptions. If the Chair of the Performance Authority is satisfied
that particular protected information will assist one of a number of agencies, bodies or
individuals to perform or exercise their powers or functions an authorised officer may
disclose that information. However, the recipient of the protected information must
not use it for a purpose other than that for which it was given [section 120].
Similarly, if the Chair of the Performance Authority is satisfied that particular
protected information will assist an agency, body or person to conduct research an
authorised officer may disclose that information, providing that the information is not
likely to enable the identification of a particular patient [section 121].
The Chair of the Performance Authority may delegate any function or powers under
this Part to the Performance Authority CEO, who must comply with any directions
from the Chair in exercising the delegation [section 124].
Part 3.13 - Other matters
The Minister may by legislative instrument give general directions to the Performance
Authority in relation to the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers
[section 125]. The Government intends to use this power to ensure that the
Performance Authority carries out the any detailed tasks specified in the National
Health Reform Agreement once it is concluded.
To the extent to which reports prepared or published by the Performance Authority
under the Act contain personal information, the disclosure or use of this personal
information is taken to be authorised by law for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988
[section 127]. However, section 128 in Chapter 4 (see below) prevents the
Performance Authority from publishing information that is likely to enable the
identification of a particular patient without consent.
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ADDITION OF CHAPTER 4 - MISCELLANEOUS
This Chapter includes a provision relating to privacy and confidentiality, a statement
of the relation between this Act and State laws, and a regulation making power.
The Commission or the Performance Authority must not publish or disseminate
information likely to lead to the identification of a particular patient without consent.
Consent may be given by
· the patient, if the patient is aged 18 or more; or
· the patient's surviving partner, if the patient is dead; or
· a person authorised under the regulations to give consent [section 128].
The Act is intended to operate concurrently with State law to the extent possible
[section 129].
Regulations can be made prescribing matters required or permitted to be prescribed
under the Act, or necessary or convenient to give effect to the Act [section 130].
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