Urgent Debates Declined — Accident Compensation—Opening Scheme to Competition

I have received a letter from the Leader of the Opposition seeking to debate under Standing Order 380 the Government’s decision to work on opening up the accident compensation scheme’s work account to competition. This is a particular case of recent occurrence involving ministerial responsibility. The Government has introduced legislation and agreed that a stocktake group will look at the accident compensation scheme’s structure and will consider the possibility of opening up the work account to competition. This is an important matter, but there must be an element of urgency for it to take precedence over other business. The time to consider the work of the stocktake group will be when it reports. The setting up of a review rarely justifies an urgent debate.

Furthermore, in considering whether a matter requires the urgent attention of the House, it is relevant to consider whether another parliamentary means of debating it is available. The Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation Amendment Bill, introduced last Thursday, aims to improve flexibility in the accident compensation scheme and includes changes to the work account. Its first reading will be debated today. In these circumstances, I am not persuaded that the business of the House should be set aside today. The matter can be considered over a longer time frame. Therefore, the application is declined.