CHF is aware that many concerns have been raised about the awarding of the contract for the National Register to Telstra Health. However it is clear from the Bill that the Commonwealth is the custodian of the data in the register and as such has the responsibility to ensure that sufficient / stringent privacy safeguards and data governance arrangements are put in place to ensure the information collected is only used for the agreed purposes. This responsibility remains with them regardless of any contractual arrangements to operate the Register. The Bills provide those safeguards. It would be CHF’s expectation that the Bill’s intent with regard to privacy and data governance is upheld in appropriate provisions in the contractual arrangements in place between the Government and Telstra Health. With these legislative provisions and contractual obligations in place CHF believes the population health benefits exceed the risks and the Register should be established.