Parliament

Community Affairs 24 February 2011

CHAIR—I now ask witnesses from Australian Hearing to come forward.

Senator SIEWERT—I have had reported to me that some of the very early Cochlear implants are no longer available. So, when the old ones run out, there will no longer be processes to fit that, yet I can clearly remember when we went to visit, as part of our hearing inquiry, that it is technology for life, and these can be retrofitted.

Community Affairs 24 February 2011

CHAIR—We will reconvene. We have questions from Senator Siewert.

Senator SIEWERT—I wanted to go to income management, but is it possible to ask some questions about the SSAT tribunal appeals process?

CHAIR—I may well have sent those officers home.

Ms Hogg—They have gone.

Community Affairs 24 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—Do I ask about the developmental delay packages here or should I have asked it before? We ran out of time before.

Ms S Wilson—The developmental delay packages are in this outcome. My colleagues will have to come to the table to answer those questions.

Community Affairs 24 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—Thank you. That is much appreciated. Is it here that I ask about income management?
Dr Harmer—Yes.

Community Affairs 24 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—I have a number of questions. First I will go to financial counselling. I understand that the additional resources for financial counselling run out this year. I also understand that there is a great deal of concern about what happens after this. Have you had that representation from financial counsellors and in particular in light of the situation that is obviously now facing people in terms of floods?

Community Affairs 24 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—With respect to the family relationship area in the Family Support Program, I have a number of questions, and I do have online questions. As I understand it, contracts for the FSP expire on 30 June, and Minister Macklin at the conference at the end of last year outlined some directions for the programs, and also said that there would be no major retendering process. Is that correct?

Dr Harmer—Yes.

23 February 2011 – Community Affairs

Senator SIEWERT—In the guidelines you say that Medicare locals will reflect the local communities et cetera. I will not read it all out. How are you going to ensure that these groups are reflected in the Medicare Locals—in particular, consumers?

Ms Morris—I cannot remember which page it is on.

Ms Huxtable—Can you tell us the page?

Senator SIEWERT—I cannot tell you which page, sorry.

Community Affairs – 23 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—We may be doing this game again with me but we will see. I am interested in the costs of specialised medical equipment.

Ms Halton—Keep going; more hints.

Senator SIEWERT—I have had this from several people, but one in particular raised it with me. He is a disability pensioner and he is after supplying some equipment that he needs and apparently he can get it cheaper overseas but he does not get support for that. Do I ask that here or should I ask that tomorrow with FaHCSIA?

Community Affairs 23 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—We have had discussions before about naltrexone, and I wanted to follow up on that. I understand the review has been completed.

Prof. Anderson—Correct.

Senator SIEWERT—Has it been publicly released?

Community Affairs 23 February 2011

Senator SIEWERT—I realise that the question I wanted to ask I think I should be asking of the department, but I am just wondering where your level of involvement is at with the bowel cancer screening process.

Dr Zorbas—The screening program is obviously not part of our remit, but we are obviously watching the evidence and the activities in that area very closely.