AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

HEALTH COMMISSION (CHARGES) REGULATIONS (REPEAL)

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

No. 12 of 1985

The Health Commission (Charges) Regulations have been repealed as a result of amendments implemented by the Health Commission (Amendment) Ordinance, (No. 3), 1984 which enables the Minister of Health to determine fees and charges by written notice published in the Gazette.  Determinations of charges and fees replace a majority of the regulations.  The practice of determining fees was made possible by a 1982 amendment to the Seat of Government (Administration) Act, 1910 which aimed at reducing the workload of the legislative draftsmen and hastening the implementation of new fees.

The regulations also provided public hospital patients with an option to receive medical treatment exclusively from persons not employed by the A.C.T. Health Authority.  This provision now appears in section 75 of the Health Services Ordinance 1975.

The remaining regulation was concerned with the prescription of classes of persons exempted from the requirement to pay ambulance fees.  It has no further utility as the exemption is now declared by instrument in writing under subsection 74(5) of the Health Services Ordinance, 1975.

The repeal of the Health Commission (Charges) Regulations has been approved by the Australian Capital Territory House of Assembly.