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Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio |
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Outcomes |
Revisions |
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Outcome 2 Seniors, people with disabilities, carers, youth and women are supported, recognised and encouraged to participate in the community |
Addition of Output
Group 2.0 – Appropriations applicable across |
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Health and Ageing Portfolio |
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Outcomes |
Revisions |
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Former Outcome 14 – Health and Medical Research |
Replaced by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) agency |
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Outcome 14 Biosecurity and Emergency Response |
Formerly Outcome 15 |
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National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) agency |
Deleted - NICS was incorporated into the NHMRC |
1.13 A range of questions dealing with cross portfolio and corporate matters were raised. These included FaCSIA's operating deficit, funding for advertising campaigns, staffing levels, including the number of Indigenous staff employed in the Department, Indigenous Coordination Centres (ICCs) and the operation of the ICCs.[4]
1.14 FaCSIA was extensively questioned regarding their input and response to the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) audit report Distribution of Funding for Community Grant Programmes.[5] ANAO concluded that FaCSIA's administration of the approval process for Volunteer Small Equipment Grants (VSEG) Round One 2004 fell below the standard expected of Australian Government agencies in administering grant programmes. With regard to one-off grants to community organisations ANAO concluded that, with the exception of the approval process, FaCSIA had generally administered these grants in line with relevant legislation and guidelines.[6]
1.15 Dr Harmer advised the Committee that very substantial reforms had been made across all of the areas that ANAO had been critical, such as transparency, guidance to staff and promulgation of the grants process.[7] Exchanges continued at length on the audit report findings, with detailed information being sought, particularly on the approval process and distribution of grants which it was argued favoured certain electorates.[8]
1.16 The Tiwi Land Council provided information to the Committee about the Council's role in providing legal advice and support to the traditional landowners in their negotiations for the Commonwealth to use their land. The processes involved people agreeing to the Memorandum of Understanding and the signing of the document relating to the 99-year lease proposal over the township of Nguiu to assist Indigenous home ownership; the Minister's press release and media coverage of the issue were discussed at length. Questions were also asked about forestry and the exporting of logs.[9]
1.17 A wide range of questions were asked of FaCSIA relating to Indigenous housing including the expanded Australian Remote and Indigenous Accommodation (ARIA) program, the Community Housing and Infrastructure (CHIP) program, and National Aboriginal Health Strategy (NAHS) projects. The Committee was advised of the Home Ownership on Indigenous Land (HOIL) program and progress with housing provision in Wadeye, Wudapuli and Nama. The employment of Indigenous people in the construction of housing and municipal services was also discussed.
1.18 However, difficulties were experienced by the Committee in obtaining detailed information about particular housing issues due to the crossover of responsibility between FaCSIA and Indigenous Business Australia (IBA), which is in the Employment and Workplace Relations Portfolio and is responsible for housing service provision. To assist the Committee FaCSIA undertook to obtain from IBA answers to a number of questions.[10]
1.19 Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) informed the Committee about the current situation regarding provision of hostel accommodation for Aboriginal peoples, AHL staffing levels and staff conditions of employment.[11]
1.20 Issues relating to housing affordability, including the National Affordable Rental Incentive (NARI) proposal, rent assistance, housing research, the Commonwealth-State Housing Agreement, and services under the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) were the subject of detailed questioning.[12]
1.21 The Indigenous Land Corporation (ILC) provided information about the level of income received to date from the Indigenous Land Fund and the amount expected in the current year, and the ILC's land acquisition and management program.[13]
1.22 The Committee questioned FaCSIA on expenditure and progress with the petrol sniffing reduction initiative, in which subject the Committee has a particular interest as follow-up to the recommendations of the Committee's former inquiry and report.[14]
1.23 A number of questions were asked of FaCSIA relating to support for the aged, including the seniors concession allowance, travel concessions, telephone allowance, utilities allowance, fraud and compliance measures relating to real estate assets and the assessment procedures. The Committee also sought information on the pension bonus scheme, the Greek social security agreement and special benefits.[15]
1.24 Issues relating to support for people with disabilities were questioned extensively. In particular, the Committee Chair asked FaCSIA about the progress being made with the Government response to the Committee's report on the funding and operation of the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement. FaCSIA responded that:
Advice to government around a response to the Senate committee report is progressing concurrently. There is not necessarily a dependence between a response from state and territory ministers and response to the Senate inquiry. [16]
1.25 The Committee Chair commented:
I would like to express the hope that you would take back to the minister, Dr Harmer, or Minister Scullion, the very strong view of this committee that the recommendations about increased support for people with disabilities and their families that arose out of that report, are very much matters that the committee wants to see addressed and hopes will be taken very seriously.[17]
1.26 Senators also asked a wide range of questions on other disability matters. Included in these discussions was the tracking of unspent funds against the 2006-07 budget, the Commonwealth State/Territory Disability Agreement, unmet need, differentials in service delivery, and business services. FaCSIA also advised the Committee on progress with the National Disability Advocacy Program, evaluation of the Commonwealth Disability Strategy, and the young people in nursing homes project.[18]
1.27 Mental health issues were extensively covered, including the number of Departmental people specifically working on mental health programs, funding of programs and moneys expended on programs, respite services, family relationship services, community-based programs, carers, personal mentors, services in remote areas, and education campaigns.[19]
1.28 Information was sought about the support being provided for carers, including respite support for carers of young people with a severe and profound disability, the carers' one-off bonus payment, carer allowance and payments. Special disability trusts were also discussed in some detail.[20]
1.29 FaCSIA informed the Committee with regard to Family Tax Benefit recipients, payments and reconciliations. Family relationship services and child support reforms were also included in discussions.[21]
1.30 Funding of programs relating to youth, the National Youth Roundtable, and Reconnect were discussed. A number of women's issues were also discussed, including superannuation and other workforce matters, support for victims of people trafficking and the Women's Safety Agenda, Lifeline and the Women's Leadership and Development Program.[22]
1.31 Child care issues discussed included the numbers of children in child care, child care benefit, the child care management system, child care services support program, JET child care, and the child care tax rebate.[23]
Health and Ageing portfolio
1.32 Estimates for DoHA commenced with the Committee asking questions on the total expenditure on health for the whole of government and future projections outlined in the Intergenerational Report.[24]
1.33 The Committee discussed at length a wide range of population health matters. DoHA informed the Committee on progress with the implementation of the bowel cancer screening program, the meningococcal C vaccination program and the reported reactions to the Gardasil vaccine and DoHA's oversighting of possible reactions to the vaccine. Questions were also asked relating to the funding allocation and grants issued under the Healthy School Communities program, as well as the children's national nutrition and physical activity survey and well-being plan.[25]
1.34 Pregnancy counselling issues, including the pregnancy helpline, client confidentiality and privacy protocols, and advertising material, which have been the subject of lengthy debate at former estimates hearings and during the Committee's inquiry into the Transparent Advertising and Notification of Pregnancy Counselling Services Bill 2005, were again discussed in some detail.[26]
1.35 Information was sought on health promotion advertising campaigns, including the anti-obesity initiative, funding for health messages relating to chronic diseases, smoking trends and tobacco control. The National Illicit Drug Strategy was also discussed.[27]
1.36 The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare provided information about the cost and affordability of dental treatment, expenditure on dental health and dental services.[28] The Medicare allied health and dental care initiative was also discussed in detail.[29]
1.37 Details of the management of the sale of the Therapeutic Goods Administration building were provided to the Committee. TGA's fees and charges to industry and drug registration were also discussed.[30]
1.38 DoHA provided information on the collection of Medicare statistics relating to GP consultation numbers and the published data, bulk billing rates, MRI services and locations, and the Professional Services Review funding.[31]
1.39 A range of pharmaceutical services matters were raised, including the reform of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) and expected savings from price reductions, the brand premium, National Prescribing Service, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and the cost recovery policy, Aboriginal medical services, and generic medicines.[32]
1.40 A number of questions were asked relating to progress with rural and remote health programs and services,[33] as well as in the areas of health and medical workforce shortage and medical and dental training places and placement.[34]
1.41 Details of funding for hearing services and research were provided by DoHA, and hearing services provision and the voucher system discussed.[35]
1.42 Aged care matters were subjected to considerable questioning. Included in discussions were unspent funding on programs, community aged care packages, restructuring of subsidies and supplements, accommodation bonds, the community care and subsidies review, aged care approvals for residential care places, allocation of bed licences and fire safety certification. The aged care workforce, abuse in aged care facilities, and the audit of aged care facilities were also discussed.[36]
1.43 Information was provided on a number of topics relating to mental health, including mental health services in rural and remote areas, the drought initiative, telephone counselling, the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners measure, the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, defence force and veterans' mental health issues, the GP referral care plan, evaluation funding, links between illicit drugs and mental illness, measures to increase the number of mental health nurses and allied mental health workers.[37]
1.44 Included in discussions relating to private health insurance were the private health insurance advertising campaign, mailout of a letter by Medicare Australia to people under 31 years of age who do not have private health insurance, and Lifetime health cover.[38]
1.45 A number of Indigenous health issues were discussed including expenditure for Indigenous health programs, a new nurse-led home visiting service for mothers, babies and young children; progress being made with the trachoma treatment program, the petrol sniffing prevention program and the Bringing Them Home program. Information was also provided on the quality health standards initiative and CDEP jobs.[39]
1.46 DoHA provided details of expenditure across a large number of cancer programs. Cancer Australia also provided an update on matters such as progress being made by the agency and the Centre for Gynaecological Cancers, and cancer research.[40]
1.47 Senators questioned the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and expressed concern regarding the consultation and submission processes for the draft ethical guidelines on the use of assisted reproductive technology in clinical practice and research 2004 (as updated in 2007). Senator Patterson stated that she expected to see considerable changes to the original guidelines.[41]
1.48 The timeframe for the Australian Health Care Agreements and outcomes of capability audits of the health system's preparedness for terrorist attacks were also discussed.[42]
1.49 In addition to the above issues a number of administrative and process issues involving both portfolios were discussed during the estimates hearings and these are detailed in the Hansard transcripts of evidence.
Senator Gary Humphries
Chairman
June 2007
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