Opened the debate
Butler argued that the bill represented over a decade of evidence-based work to expand registered nurses' scope of practice. Butler stated that while the government engaged with podiatry groups, the necessary consultation and assessment for podiatrists were not yet complete. Butler emphasized that universities had already begun nurse prescribing programs and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee was reviewing relevant medicines. Butler contended that adding podiatry provisions at the last minute would bypass the rigorous process applied to nurses.