{"id":"F2024L00493","name":"National Health (Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal) Appointment 2024","slug":"national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":105208,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2024L00493-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-03","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"National Health (Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal) Appointment 2024","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nNational Health (Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal) Appointment 2024\n\nI, General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council and under paragraph 98A(2)(a) of the National Health Act 1953, appoint Judith Wright as Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal for a period of three years, beginning on 29 May 2024.\n\n \n\n \n\nDated    11 April 2024   \n\nDavid Hurley\n\nGovernor‑General\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command\n\nMark Butler\n\nMinister for Health and Aged Care\n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument does not change the scope, functions or powers of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal; it simply appoints an individual (Judith Wright) as Chairperson for a specified three-year term beginning 29 May 2024, under the authority of paragraph 98A(2)(a) of the National Health Act 1953. Any change in policy, regulatory scope or market effect would result from the exercise of existing statutory powers by the appointed chair, not from this appointment instrument itself."},"complexity_factors":["Procedural/legal formality referencing an external statutory provision (paragraph 98A(2)(a) of the National Health Act 1953) rather than setting substantive rules","Fixed-term appointment with clear start date (29 May 2024) and duration (three years) reduces ambiguity","Instrument is short and narrowly focused (appointment only) — low substantive content","Dependencies on external statute for duties, powers and consequences (requires consulting the National Health Act to assess substantive impact)","Limited administrative detail in instrument (no mention of remuneration, conditions or transitional arrangements) which shifts complexity to other instruments or legislation"],"plain_english_summary":"Judith Wright is appointed Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal for a three‑year term beginning 29 May 2024, by the Governor‑General acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council under paragraph 98A(2)(a) of the National Health Act 1953. \n\nThe instrument simply fills the statutory office; it does not change the Tribunal’s powers, create new obligations for third parties, or specify pay—any effects depend on how the chair exercises existing statutory functions."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This is a straightforward administrative appointment instrument exercising a specific power under the National Health Act 1953. It has not expanded beyond its original purpose of making individual appointments to the Tribunal."},"complexity_factors":["Single operative provision: one appointment with fixed term","No defined terms requiring interpretation","No cross-references to other sections beyond the empowering provision (s 98A(2)(a))","No conditional logic, exceptions, or procedural requirements","Standard administrative instrument format following template"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this is:** A formal appointment notice naming Judith Wright as the new Chairperson of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- **Judith Wright** — she gets the job for three years starting 29 May 2024\n- **The Pharmaceutical Benefits Remuneration Tribunal** — a body that helps decide how much the government pays for medicines listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)\n- **Patients and taxpayers** — indirectly, because the Tribunal's decisions influence medicine prices and availability\n\n**What it does:**\n- Uses the Governor-General's authority (on ministerial advice) to make a statutory appointment under the *National Health Act 1953*\n- Sets a fixed three-year term rather than an ongoing appointment\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThe Tribunal plays a behind-the-scenes but important role in Australia's medicine pricing system. Having a properly appointed Chairperson ensures the body can continue its work of determining remuneration for pharmacists who dispense PBS medicines. Fixed terms are standard for such roles to maintain independence while ensuring accountability."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024","history":"/api/acts/national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024/history","analysis":"/api/acts/national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/national-health-chairperson-of-the-pharmaceutical-benefits-remuneration-tribunal-appointment-2024/documents"}}