I've just read the details on this so-called "indemnity scheme" that @GregHuntMP advertised earlier.

I'll let the @RACGPPresident / @brookmanknight share the details if she chooses to.

Essentially, there is NO NEW PROTECTION for medical practitioners. https://twitter.com/DrEricHadinata/status/1381128626461057029

1. The minister is relying on pre-existing "The Commonwealth Medical Indemnity schemes" that has existed since 2004.

2. He made it clear the SPECIFIC COVID-19 vaccine Commonwealth indemnity agreement protects the SUPPLIER (i.e. AztraZeneca), not the practitioner.

3. He made it clear that "informed consent is required before the administration of each vaccine dose".

4. There are clear laws and guidelines on what "informed consent" is in Australia. A signature on a consent form is NOT proof of "informed consent"

https://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/publications-and-resources/resource-library/informed-consent-fact-sheet-clinicians

5. Mr Hunt seems to believe that we can still get informed consent by handing out consent forms

6. This is a cost-saving measure that will allow him to argue that he didn't need to provide any more funding and not allocate >5 minutes per GP consultation for "informed consent"

7. Prof Allen Cheng ( @peripatetical): "consumer representatives ... were struggling to wrap their heads around these benefits and risks, leading experts to believe they couldn’t just leave it up to the public to weigh up whether they would get the jab." https://www.smh.com.au/national/australian-vaccine-experts-felt-compelled-to-make-astrazeneca-call-20210409-p57hwh.html

8. So if these "most well-informed consumers in the country" struggled to understand risks vs benefits, requiring firm directives from Prof Cheng and co, then, how can we be reassured that a simple signature on a mass-produced consent form can be taken as "informed consent"?

9. So I ask you again @GregHuntMP: What will you do to support GPs in assisting our patients in their informed decision-making process?

Will you overhaul the funding model and give us specific indemnity protection?

@brookmanknight @amapresident

Oh, and shall we discuss the issue of "civil conscription"?

Subsection 51(xxiiiA) of the Constitution: the provision of ... sickness and hospital benefits, medical and dental services (but not so as to authorize any form of civil conscription)..."

http://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/coaca430/s51.html