Health Insurance Amendment (Incentive Payments and Other Measures) Bill 2026

Senator RUSTON (South Australia—Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (12:42): by leave—I move amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 3945 together: (1) Schedule 1, item 4, page 10 (line 13), at the end of subsection 54(2), add: and; (c) in the case of the Secretary—the Secretary has had regard to any instrument in force under subsection (5); and (d) in the case of the Chief Executive Medicare—the Chief Executive Medicare has had regard to any instrument in force under subsection (7).

(2) Schedule 1, item 4, page 10 (after line 18), at the end of section 54, add: (5) The Secretary must, by legislative instrument, determine guidelines in relation to the exercise of the power under subsection (1) by the Secretary. (6) Without limiting subsection (5), the guidelines must set out the matters that the Secretary may have regard to in determining whether to exercise the power under subsection (1) in relation to an eligible provider.

(7) The Chief Executive Medicare must, by legislative instrument, determine guidelines in relation to the exercise of the power under subsection (1) by the Chief Executive Medicare. (8) Without limiting subsection (7), the guidelines must set out the matters that the Chief Executive Medicare may have regard to in determining whether to exercise the power under subsection (1) in relation to an eligible provider.