Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Queensland
Health Practitioner Regulation
National Law and Other
Legislation Amendment Bill
2024
Queensland
Health Practitioner Regulation National
Law and Other Legislation Amendment
Bill 2024
Contents
Page
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Commencement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
3 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
4 Amendment of s 94 (QCAT’s jurisdiction) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
5 Amendment of s 96 (Orders that QCAT may make) . . . . . . . . . . 7
6 Amendment of s 97 (Constitution of QCAT) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
7 Amendment of s 107 (Decision about registered health practitioner other
than student) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
8 Insertion of new s 125A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
125A Application of division . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
9 Amendment of s 126 (Tribunal to be assisted by assessors) . . . 8
10 Amendment of s 261 (Reprisal and grounds for reprisals) . . . . . 9
11 Amendment of s 262 (Offence for taking reprisal) . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
12 Insertion of new s 263A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
263A Non-disclosure agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
13 Insertion of new pt 21, div 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Division 4 Transitional provision for Health Practitioner
Regulation National Law and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2024
320I Application of s 263A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
14 Amendment of sch 1 (Dictionary) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Part 3 Amendment of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
15 Law amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Contents
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Page 2
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
16 Amendment of s 5 (Definitions) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
17 Insertion of new s 77A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
77A Restriction on disqualified persons applying for registration
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
18 Amendment of s 196 (Decision by responsible tribunal about registered
health practitioner) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
19 Amendment of s 197 (Decision by responsible tribunal about student)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
20 Insertion of new pt 8, div 12A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Division 12A Reinstatement orders
198A Application for reinstatement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
198B Hearing of application for reinstatement order . . . . . 15
198C Parties to proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
198D Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
198E Decision about application for reinstatement order . . 16
21 Insertion of new ss 225A and 225B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
225A Requirement for additional information to be recorded in
National and Specialists Registers in certain circumstances
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
225B Additional information to be recorded in National and
Specialists Registers for s 225A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
22 Insertion of new ss 237A and 237B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
237A Protection from reprisals for persons making notifications or
otherwise providing information, documents or assistance
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
237B Non-disclosure agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
23 Insertion of new pt 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Part 16 Transitional provisions for Health Practitioner
Regulation National Law and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2024
327 Application of s 77A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
328 Application for reinstatement order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
329 Application of s 237B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Part 4 Amendment of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act
2009
24 Act amended . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
25 Insertion of new ss 51A and 51B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
51A Amendment of s 198C (Parties to proceedings) . . . . 24
Contents
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Page 3
Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
51B Omission of s 198D (Costs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
26 Insertion of new s 55A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
55A Amendment of s 225B (Additional information to be recorded
in National and Specialists Registers for s 225A) . . . 25
27 Insertion of new s 56AA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
56AA Omission of ss 237A and 237B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
28 Insertion of new ss 58 and 59 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
58 Replacement of s 328 (Application for reinstatement order)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
59 Omission of s 329 (Application of s 237B) . . . . . . . . 28
2024
A Bill
for
An Act to amend the Health Ombudsman Act 2013 and the
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act 2009 for
particular purposes
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 1]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 1 Preliminary
The Parliament of Queensland enacts—
Part 1 Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Health Practitioner Regulation
National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2024.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day to be fixed by proclamation.
Part 2 Amendment of Health
Ombudsman Act 2013
3 Act amended
This part amends the Health Ombudsman Act 2013.
4 Amendment of s 94 (QCAT’s jurisdiction)
(1) Section 94(2), after paragraph (a)—
insert—
(aa) hear an application made by a disqualified
person for a reinstatement order under the
National Law, section 198A; and
(2) Section 94(2)(aa) and (b)—
renumber as section 94(2)(b) and (c).
(3) Section 94(5), ‘(2)(b)’—
omit, insert—
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[s 5]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
(2)(c)
5 Amendment of s 96 (Orders that QCAT may make)
(1) Section 96—
insert—
(2A) The National Law, part 8, division 12A provides
for the orders that QCAT may make after hearing
an application made by a disqualified person for a
reinstatement order under the National Law,
section 198A.
(2) Section 96(2A) and (3)—
renumber as section 96(3) and (4).
6 Amendment of s 97 (Constitution of QCAT)
Section 97(2)—
insert—
(d) an application made by a disqualified person
for a reinstatement order under the National
Law, section 198A.
7 Amendment of s 107 (Decision about registered health
practitioner other than student)
(1) Section 107(4), after ‘decide to’—
insert—
do 1 or more of the following
(2) Section 107(4)(a)—
omit, insert—
(a) disqualify the practitioner from applying for
registration as a registered health
practitioner;
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[s 8]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
(aa) impose a restriction on the person, either
permanently or for a stated period, from
applying to QCAT for a reinstatement order;
8 Insertion of new s 125A
Before section 126—
insert—
125A Application of division
This division applies in relation to a disciplinary
proceeding relating to—
(a) a registered health practitioner; or
(b) an application made by a disqualified person
for a reinstatement order under the National
Law, section 198A.
9 Amendment of s 126 (Tribunal to be assisted by
assessors)
(1) Section 126(1), ‘relating to a registered health practitioner’—
omit.
(2) Section 126(1)(b), ‘2 assessors’—
omit, insert—
for a proceeding relating to a registered health
practitioner—2 assessors
(3) Section 126(1)—
insert—
(c) for a proceeding relating to an application
made by a disqualified person for a
reinstatement order under the National Law,
section 198A—2 assessors chosen by the
principal registrar from the professional
panel of assessors for the profession to
which the application relates.
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 10]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
10 Amendment of s 261 (Reprisal and grounds for reprisals)
(1) Section 261(1), from ‘person—’—
omit, insert—
person has taken, or intends to take, protected
action.
(2) Section 261—
insert—
(2A) Also, a person must not—
(a) use threats or intimidation to attempt to
persuade another person not to take
protected action; or
(b) dismiss, or refuse to employ, another person
because, or in the belief that, the other
person has taken, or intends to take,
protected action.
(3) Section 261(3) and (4), after ‘subsection (1)’—
insert—
or (3)
(4) Section 261(5), ‘subsection (3)’—
omit, insert—
subsection (4)
(5) Section 261(2A) to (5)—
renumber as section 261(3) to (6).
(6) Section 261—
insert—
(7) In this section—
protected action means—
(a) making either of the following, in good
faith—
(i) a health service complaint;
Clause 1
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[s 11]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
(ii) a notification under the National Law,
part 8, division 2 or 3; or
(b) giving information, documents or other
assistance in the course of an investigation
or for another purpose under this Act or the
National Law to a person performing
functions under this Act or the National
Law.
11 Amendment of s 262 (Offence for taking reprisal)
Section 262, penalty—
omit, insert—
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—375 penalty units or 2
years imprisonment; or
(b) for a corporation—750 penalty units.
12 Insertion of new s 263A
After section 263—
insert—
263A Non-disclosure agreements
(1) A provision of a non-disclosure agreement is void
to the extent it prevents or limits a person from—
(a) making either of the following, in good
faith—
(i) a health service complaint;
(ii) a notification under the National Law,
part 8, division 2 or 3; or
(b) giving information, documents or other
assistance in the course of an investigation
or for another purpose under this Act or the
National Law to a person performing
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Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
functions under this Act or the National
Law.
(2) A relevant person must not enter into a
non-disclosure agreement unless the agreement
sets out, clearly and in writing, that the agreement
does not limit a person from—
(a) making either of the following, in good
faith—
(i) a health service complaint;
(ii) a notification under the National Law,
part 8, division 2 or 3; or
(b) giving information, documents or other
assistance in the course of an investigation
or for another purpose under this Act or the
National Law to a person performing
functions under this Act or the National
Law.
Maximum penalty—
(a) for an individual—30 penalty units; or
(b) for a corporation—60 penalty units.
(3) In this section—
non-disclosure agreement means a contract or
other agreement that prohibits or restricts the
disclosure of information or documents by a
person in relation to the health, conduct or
performance of a health service provider or
former health service provider.
relevant person means the following—
(a) an employer or former employer of a health
service provider or former health service
provider;
(b) a health service provider.
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 13]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 2 Amendment of Health Ombudsman Act 2013
13 Insertion of new pt 21, div 4
Part 21—
insert—
Division 4 Transitional provision for
Health Practitioner
Regulation National Law
and Other Legislation
Amendment Act 2024
320I Application of s 263A
Section 263A(1) applies—
(a) to a non-disclosure agreement, within the
meaning of section 263A(3), whether
entered into before or after the
commencement; and
(b) in relation to the health, conduct or
performance of a health service provider or
former health service provider (the relevant
issue), whether the relevant issue occurred
before or after the commencement.
14 Amendment of sch 1 (Dictionary)
Schedule 1—
insert—
disqualified person see the National Law, section
5.
reinstatement order see the National Law,
section 5.
Clause 1
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 15]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 3 Amendment of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
Part 3 Amendment of Health
Practitioner Regulation
National Law
15 Law amended
This part amends the Health Practitioner Regulation National
Law set out in the schedule to the Health Practitioner
Regulation National Law Act 2009.
16 Amendment of s 5 (Definitions)
Section 5—
insert—
disqualified person means a person—
(a) whose registration has been cancelled by a
responsible tribunal; or
(b) who has been disqualified by a responsible
tribunal from applying for registration, or
being registered, in a health profession.
reinstatement order means an order of a
responsible tribunal that a disqualified person is
eligible to apply to a National Board for
registration under Part 7.
17 Insertion of new s 77A
After section 77—
insert—
77A Restriction on disqualified persons applying
for registration
Despite any other provision of this Law, a
disqualified person cannot apply for registration
under this Law unless a responsible tribunal has
made a reinstatement order under this Law in
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Authorised by the Parliamentary Counsel
[s 18]
Health Practitioner Regulation National Law and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024
Part 3 Amendment of Health Practitioner Regulation National Law
relation to the disqualified person.
18 Amendment of s 196 (Decision by responsible tribunal
about registered health practitioner)
(1) Section 196(1)(b)(v), ‘particular; or’—
omit, insert—
particular.
(2) Section 196(4)(a), ‘for a specified period’—
omit.
(3) Section 196(4), after paragraph (a)—
insert—
(aa) impose a period during which the person
may not apply to a responsible tribunal for a
reinstatement order;
19 Amendment of s 197 (Decision by responsible tribunal
about student)
Section 197(2), after ‘the tribunal may decide’—
insert—
to
20 Insertion of new pt 8, div 12A
Part 8, after division 12—
insert—
Division 12A Reinstatement orders
198A Application for reinstatement order
(1) A disqualified person may apply to a responsible
tribunal for a reinstatement order.
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