27th Oct 2010, 11:20 AM – Representatives National Health and Hospitals Network Bill 2010 - Second Reading - Keep the motion to read a second time unchanged

The majority voted in favour of a motion that the words that Liberal MP Peter Dutton proposed to omit remain unchanged. This means that Mr Dutton's proposed amendment was rejected.

Mr Dutton had proposed to change the original motion "That this bill be now read a second time" in the following way:

That all the words after “That” be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:“the House declines to give the bill a second reading until the following provisions are presented to the House for its consideration:

(1) provisions establishing the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority, including its full functions and responsibilities; and (2) provisions establishing the National Performance Authority, including its full functions and responsibilities”.(Read Mr Dutton's explanation of his proposed amendment here. )

One member, Nationals MP Tony Crook, rebelled and crossed the floor to vote 'aye' with the Government.(Read more about what it means to cross the floor in our FAQ Section. )

Background to the bill

The bill establishes the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care as an independent statutory body.(Read more about the bill, including its explanatory memorandum, here. Read more about the background of the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care in the bills digest.) A version of this bill was originally introduced in June 2010 but subsequently lapsed due to the 2010 election. This bill was then introduced and is identical.

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