Bill
National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016
passed, as at 2016-10-20. Health portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Health
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2016-08-31
- second reading — 2016-08-31
- second reading — 2016-09-13
- second reading — 2016-10-11
- second reading — 2016-10-11
- committee — 2016-10-11
- third reading — 2016-10-11
- introduced — 2016-10-12
- second reading — 2016-10-12
- second reading — 2016-10-12
- second reading — 2016-10-13
- second reading — 2016-10-13
- committee — 2016-10-13
- third reading — 2016-10-13
- passed — 2016-10-13
- royal assent — 2016-10-20
Divisions
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?id=2016-09-13.104.2) - > *That the provisions of the [National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5700) and the [National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5699) be referred to the [Community Affairs Legislation Committee](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Community_Affairs) for inquiry and report by 11 October 2016.* ### What does this mean? In other words, the majority wanted the Community Affairs Legislation Committee to look more closely at what the two national cancer bills proposed to do and seek submissions from the public about them. The motion was introduced by Queensland Labor Senator [Murray Watt](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/murray_watt) also on behalf of Victorian Greens Senator [Richard Di Natale](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/victoria/richard_di_natale). Earlier, ACT Labor Senator [had explained](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/divisions/senate/2016-09-13/2) why the Labor Party wanted the bills to be referred to the Committee. Read more about the bills and what they do in the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1617a/17bd014). — 2016-09-13, Senate: affirmative, ayes 36, noes 26
- The majority voted against a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/debates/?id=2016-10-11.97.1) that "condemns the Government for outsourcing Australians' most sensitive health information", so it was unsuccessful. ### Motion text > *That all words after "That" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:* > *"whilst not declining to give the bill a [second reading](http://www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/making-a-law.html), the House condemns the Government for outsourcing Australians' most sensitive health information - including Medicare data - to Telstra, and before passing the necessary legislation."* ### What are the bills? The two bills under discussion are the: * [National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5700) * [National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5699) Read more about them in the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1617a/17bd014). — 2016-10-11, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 70, noes 75
- National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016 and another - Consideration in Detail - Privatisation — 2016-10-11, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 68, noes 76
- National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016 and another - Consideration in Detail - Penalties for data breach — 2016-10-11, House of Representatives: negative, ayes 69, noes 75
- The majority voted in favour of a [motion](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2016-10-12.41.6) condemning "*the Government for outsourcing Australians' most sensitive health information to Telstra before the Parliament even saw the necessary legislation*". It was introduced by Labor Senator [Murray Watt](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/queensland/murray_watt). This motion doesn't have legal affect, but represents the opinion of the Senate. ### Find out more about the bill The two bills under discussion are the: * [National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5700) * [National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5699) Together, they create a National Cancer Screening Register. Read more about them in the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1617a/17bd014). ### Motion text > *At the end of the motion, add:* > *", but the Senate condemns the Government for outsourcing Australians' most sensitive health information to Telstra before the Parliament even saw the necessary legislation.".* — 2016-10-13, Senate: affirmative, ayes 34, noes 27
- The majority voted against [amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2016-10-13.64.2) introduced by Labor Senator [Helen Polley](https://theyvoteforyou.org.au/people/senate/tasmania/helen_polley) (Tas), which means they were rejected. ### What were the amendments? Senator Polley [explained that her amendments](http://www.openaustralia.org.au/senate/?gid=2016-10-13.64.2) would have: > *These amendments would restrict the operation of a register to a government agency or to a not-for-profit organisation. Our amendments would allow the register to be operated by one of the organisations that actually have experience and expertise in this area, like the Commonwealth Department of Human Services or the Victorian psychology service.* ### Find out more about the bill The two bills under discussion are the: * [National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5700) * [National Cancer Screening Register (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2016](http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:legislation/billhome/r5699) Together, they create a National Cancer Screening Register. Read more about them in the [bills digest](http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Bills_Legislation/bd/bd1617a/17bd014). ### Motion text > *(1) Clause 26, page 26 (line 16), omit "The Minister ", substitute "(1) The Minister ".* > *(2) Clause 26, page 26 (lines 16 and 17), omit "a person ", substitute "a permitted entity ".* > *(3) Clause 26, page 26 (after line 20), at the end of the clause, add:* >> *(3) In this section: permitted entity means:* >>> *(a) a Department of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or* >>> *(b) a body (whether incorporated or unincorporated) established for a public purpose by a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or* >>> *(c) a person in the service or employment of a Department mentioned in paragraph (a) or a — 2016-10-13, Senate: negative, ayes 29, noes 33
- National Cancer Screening Register Bill 2016 and another - in Committee - Protection of private data — 2016-10-13, Senate: negative, ayes 29, noes 35
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2016-08-31.
This bill sets up a legal framework for a national cancer screening register.
The register would collect, store, and report data for bowel and cervical screening programs, and send invitations and test kits.
The government allocated funding for the register in the 2015-16 Budget, and the business case was approved in the 2016-17 Budget.
- Creates a legislative framework for the National Cancer Screening Register.
- Authorises collection, use and disclosure of information for the register.
- Requires certain persons to notify of unauthorised handling of personal information in the register.
The Australian Government, the Department of Human Services, State and Territory governments, and participants in bowel and cervical screening programs.
Sources
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billhome
frl act