Health Legislation Amendment (Improved Medicare Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025

Senator ROBERTS (Queensland) (12:41): Minister, the existing wording of section 19(1) already allows the TGA to approve the use of a drug that is not registered or approved in Australia, in the event of a shortage. That power has been used for 135 current approvals and for 600 expired and lapsed approvals, for a total of 735 approvals of new drugs or versions of drugs in two years.

Why do you need new powers when the existing wording is clearly no barrier to approval?