Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2025

Senator McALLISTER (New South Wales—Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) (19:08): The purpose of the Private Health Insurance (National Joint Replacement Register Levy) Amendment Bill 2025 is to slightly amend the arrangements for the National Joint Replacement Registry. This is an important institution, as other senators have noted in their contribution to the debate, and it allows registration and information to be collected from relevant hospitals that let us define, improve and maintain the quality of care of individuals receiving joint replacement surgery.

Currently the act only recognises the person responsible at the time of the listing of a device and not any subsequent person who is responsible for that listing over time due to business or other changes, and specifying the responsible person in the rules will allow this limitation to be addressed. Provisions are included in the bill to validate past levy contributions, and I thank senators for their contribution to the debate on the bill.

Senator Steele-John: Could I clarify something. Apologies for the question at this point in the debate, but is there an opportunity for me to speak explicitly to Senator Ruston's amendment? The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Grogan ): Given that Senator Ruston moved the motion before you spoke, Senator Steele-John, that's not possible.

Being a second reading amendment, it won't necessarily go to a committee unless there are further requirements. The question is that the second reading amendment on sheet 3461, moved by Senator Ruston, be agreed to. A division having been called and the hour of the day being past 6.30 pm, the vote will be deferred until a later date.

The debate is adjourned accordingly.