Standing Committee on Family and Community Affairs

Committee activities (inquiries and reports)

What price competition?: Report on the competitive tendering of welfare services

The Committee tabled its report on 29 June 1998. Copies of the full report (205KB) are available in PDF.
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Terms of Reference: The desirability and feasibility of increased contracting out of welfare service delivery by all service providers, with specific reference to:

• the current levels of welfare service provision by the non-government welfare sector; 
• the adequacy of current monitoring of performance standards for services delivered by the non-government welfare sector; 
• the costs and benefits provided by increased contracting out of government services; 
• the role of government in standards setting and monitoring of accountability standards; and 
• the role of government in measuring the efficiency and effectiveness of new service delivery arrangements.

Transcripts of evidence

03/04/98 Canberra
18/03/98 Townsville - no transcript available
16/03/98 Brisbane
18/02/98 Perth
16/02/98 Adelaide
09/02/98 Hobart - no transcript available
04/11/97 Sydney
03/11/97 Sydney - no transcript available
24/10/97 Canberra
06/10/97 Melbourne

Health on line: A report on health information management and telemedicine

Terms of Reference: The potential of developments in information management and information technology in the health sector to improve health care delivery and to increase Australia's international competitiveness with particular reference to:

• the current status of pilot projects already commenced and an evaluation of their potential for further development; 
• the costs and benefits of providing advanced telecommunications and computer technology to general practitioners and other health care professionals throughout Australia, particularly in rural and remote areas;
• ethical, privacy and legal issues which may arise with wide application of this technology and transfer of confidential patient information; 
• the development of standards for the coding and dissemination of medical information;  
• the feasibility of Australia becoming a regional or international leader in the development and marketing of this new technology; and 
• the implications of the wider development and implementation of medical practice through telemedicine for public and private health outlays, including the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Transcripts of evidence

06/06/97 Canberra - no transcript available
16/05/97 Canberra
07/05/97 Perth
16/04/97 Melbourne
15/04/97 Melbourne
29/01/97 Sydney
28/01/97 Sydney
15/11/96 Adelaide
14/11/96 Adelaide
20/09/96 Brisbane
04/09/96 Canberra