EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Subject: Health Workforce Australia (Abolition) Act 2014
Proclamation
Item 2 of the table in subsection 2(1) of the Health Workforce Australia (Abolition) Act 2014 (The Act) provides that Schedule 1, Parts 2 and 3 to the Act commence on a single day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if the provision(s) do not commence within the period of 6 months beginning on the day the Act receives the Royal Assent, they commence on the day after the end of that period. The Act received the Royal Assent on 24 September 2014.
The purpose of the Proclamation is to fix 8 October 2014 as the day on which Parts 2 and 3 of Schedule 1 commence.
Part 2 of Schedule 1 refers to the repeal of the Health Workforce Australia Act 2009, specifically the repeal of the whole Act.
Part 3 of Schedule 1 provides transitional provisions so that assets, liabilities and functions, of Health Workforce Australia (HWA) are transferred to the Department of Health and the smooth wind-up of HWA is completed.
The object of the Health Workforce Australia Act 2009 was to provide support for the delivery of clinical training, including simulation training, for the purposes of the health workforce, the conduct of research and data analysis to assist with the development of strategies and policy related to the health workforce. These functions have now been consolidated into the Department of Health with no disruption to service delivery.
These measures are in response to concerns raised by health workforce stakeholders during the independent review of Australian Government Health Workforce programmes, that reported in May 2013 and fulfil an election commitment to provide more efficient health services by streamlining delivery and reducing duplication and bureaucracy.
Part 1 of Schedule 1of the Act commenced the day the Act received the Royal Assent.
The Proclamation is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
The Minute recommends that the Proclamation be made in the form proposed.
Authority: Subsection 2(1) of the
Health Workforce Australia
(Abolition) Act 2014