The Government of Australia and the Government of New Zealand,

DESIROUS of providing immediately necessary medical treatment for residents
of the territory of one Party temporarily in the territory of the other Party,

HAVE AGREED as follows:

Article 1

Interpretation

For the purpose of this Agreement:

(1) "competent authorities" means:

(a) in relation to Australia, the Department of Health and Family Services,
or such other department which may in the future carry out the relevant
functions of the Department of Health and Family Services.

(b) in relation to New Zealand, the Ministry of Health, or such other department
which may in the future carry out the relevant functions of the Ministry
of Health.

(2) "evidence of residence" means:

(a) in relation to an Australian resident temporarily in the territory
of New Zealand, a current Australian passport or any other current passport
endorsed to the effect that the holder is entitled to reside in Australia
indefinitely; and

(b) in relation to a New Zealand resident temporarily in the territory
of Australia:

(i) a current New Zealand passport; or

(ii) any other current passport or current certificate of identity endorsed
to the effect that the holder is entitled to reside in New Zealand indefinitely;
or

(iii) a current refugee travel document granted by the Government of
New Zealand.

(3) "medical treatment" means:

(a) in relation to Australia, pharmaceutical benefits provided to a general
patient as defined under the National Health Act 1953, and any public hospital
service provided to a public patient within the public health system provided
under the Health Insurance Act 1973, and any determination or authorisation
made under the Health Insurance Act 1973; and

(b) in relation to the territory of New Zealand (excluding Niue), pharmaceutical
benefits (excluding any additional pharmaceutical benefit provided to a
holder of a community services card issued pursuant to the Health Entitlement
Cards Regulations 1993 or any replacement regulations), and hospital services
and maternity services provided in accordance with the relevant funding
agreement (as defined in section 21 (1) of the Health and Disability Services
Act 1993);

(c) in relation to Niue, pharmaceutical benefits and hospital services
provided under the Niue Act 1966.

(4) "resident" means:

(a) in relation to Australia, a person who is an Australian resident as
defined in and for the purposes of the Health Insurance Act 1973; and

(b) in relation to New Zealand, a person who is a New Zealand resident
of the territory of New Zealand.

(5) "temporarily in the territory" means:

(a) in relation to the territory of Australia, lawfully present but not
resident in that territory; and

(b) in relation to the territory of New Zealand, lawfully present but not
ordinarily resident in that territory.

(6) "territory" means:

(a) in relation to Australia, the territory of Australia, excluding all
external territories other than the territories of Cocos (Keeling) Islands
and Christmas Island; and

(b) in relation to New Zealand, the territory of New Zealand including
Tokelau together with the associated self-governing State of Niue.

(7) "public patient" means, in relation to a public hospital service
in Australia, a person who is eligible for medical treatment as a public patient
under the Health Insurance Act 1973.

Article 2

Persons to whom Agreement applies

(1) Subject to paragraph (2) of this Article, this Agreement applies to a
resident of the territory of one Party who, at the time of seeking medical
treatment, is able to provide evidence of residence in that territory and
who is temporarily in the territory of the other Party.

(2) This Agreement does not apply to any resident of the territory of one
Party who enters the territory of the other Party for the specific purpose
of seeking medical treatment.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2) of this Article, where a resident of the
territory of one Party is:

(a) a member of the crew or passenger on an aircraft; or

(b) a passenger on any vessel, or crew on any non?commercial vessel;

who is travelling to, leaving from, or diverted to the territory of the other
Party and the need for medical treatment arose during that flight or voyage,
that resident is entitled to that medical treatment.

Article 3

Medical treatment

A resident of the territory of one Party (being a person to whom this Agreement
applies according to Article 2) who, in the opinion of the provider of medical
treatment, needs immediately necessary medical treatment while in the territory
of the other Party, shall be provided with such medical treatment as is clinically
necessary for the diagnosis, alleviation or care of the condition requiring
attention, on terms no less favourable than would apply to a person who is
a resident of the latter territory.

Article 4

Financial arrangements

(1) Neither Party shall be liable to make any payment to the other Party
in respect of medical treatment provided under Article 3.

(2) Any amount payable for medical treatment provided under Article 3, pursuant
to this Agreement, shall be borne by the person in respect of whom the medical
treatment is provided.

Article 5

Communication between competent authorities

(1) The competent authorities shall send to each other, as soon as possible,
details of any changes in legislation, determinations, authorisations or funding
agreements in force in their respective territories which may significantly
affect the nature and scope of services provided under this Agreement.

(2) Matters relating to the interpretation or application of this Agreement
shall be resolved by consultation between the competent authorities.

Article 6

Application of Agreement

(1) At any time, the parties may agree to amend this Agreement in writing.

(2) References in this Agreement to any legislation, determination, authorisation,
or funding agreement also include any legislation, determination, authorisation,
or funding agreement which replaces, amends, supplements, or consolidates
the legislation, determination, authorisation, or funding agreement referred
to.

(3) For the purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires,
other words and expressions used in the Agreement have the meanings assigned
to them respectively under the legislation or funding agreement referred to
in Article 1 paragraph (3).

Article 7

Term of Agreement

(1) This Agreement shall enter into force on the date specified in the Notes
exchanged between the Parties through diplomatic channels notifying each other
in writing that all their respective requirements for the entry into force
of this Agreement have been fulfilled.

(2) This Agreement shall remain in force until the expiration of 12 months
from the date on which either Party receives from the other written notice
through diplomatic channels of its intention to terminate this Agreement.

(3) In the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with paragraph
(2), the Agreement shall continue to have effect in relation to medical treatment
which was being provided immediately prior to or at the expiry of the period
referred to in that paragraph.

(4) On entry into force, this Agreement shall supersede the Agreement on
Medical Treatment between the Government of Australia and the Government of
New Zealand, done at Rotorua on 2 April 1986.

(5) Notwithstanding paragraph (4) of this Article, the Parties agree that
the Agreement on Medical Treatment between the Government of Australia and
the Government of New Zealand, done at Rotorua on 2 April 1986, shall continue
to have effect in relation to medical treatment which was being provided to
any person under that Agreement immediately prior to or at the date of supersession.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, duly authorised thereto, have signed
this Agreement.

DONE in duplicate at Melbourne this fourth day of May 1998.

MICHAEL WOOLRIDGE

Minister for Health

Government of Australia

ROGER SOWRY

Minister of Social Services, Work and Income

Government of New Zealand

Melbourne, Australia, 4 May 1998