The complaints mechanism administered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, with particular reference to:

1. the implementation of the current complaints system under the National Law, including the role of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Boards;
2. whether the existing regulatory framework, established by the National Law, contains adequate provision for addressing medical complaints;
3. the roles of AHPRA, the National Boards and professional organisations, such as the various Colleges, in addressing concerns within the medical profession with the complaints process;
4. the adequacy of the relationships between those bodies responsible for handling complaints;
5. whether amendments to the National Law, in relation to the complaints handling process, are required; and
6. other improvements that could assist in a fairer, quicker and more effective medical complaints process.

The committee intends to adopt a broad interpretation of the phrase 'medical complaints' in terms of reference b., c. and f. The committee welcomes all submissions that specifically address the complaints mechanism under the National Law.