At the dissolution of the Senate and the House of Representatives on 9 May 2016 for a general election on 2 July 2016, the parliamentary committees of the 44th Parliament ceased to exist. Therefore inquiries that were not completed have lapsed and submissions cannot be received. However, information about the inquiries is still available on this website.
Information on this committee in the 45th Parliament will be presented here as soon as it is available.
On 12 November 2015, the Senate referred the following matter to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee for inquiry and report:
The growing evidence of an emerging tick-borne disease that causes a Lyme‑like illness for many Australian patients.
The terms of reference are:
- the prevalence and geographic distribution of Lyme-like illness in Australia;
- methods to reduce the stigma associated with Lyme-like illness for patients, doctors and researchers;
- the process for diagnosis of patients with a Lyme-like illness, with a specific focus on the laboratory testing procedures and associated quality assurance processes, including recognition of accredited international laboratory testing;
- evidence of investments in contemporary research into Australian pathogens specifically acquired through the bite of a tick and including other potential vectors;
- potential investment into research to discover unique local causative agents causing a growing number of Australians debilitating illness;
- the signs and symptoms Australians with Lyme-like illness are enduring, and the treatment they receive from medical professionals; and
- any other related matters.
Submissions should be received by 31 March 2016. The reporting date is 20 June 2016.