1.1
The Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee (committee) examined the proposed 2021–22 additional expenditure for the Health Portfolio and the Social Services Portfolio at public hearings held on 16 and 17 February 2022.
1.2
This report does not attempt to analyse the evidence presented to the committee; however, it does outline the key issues considered by the committee during its examination of the proposed 2021–22 additional expenditure
Referral of documents
1.3
The Senate referred the following documents to committees for examination and report:
particulars of proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022 [Appropriation Bill (No. 3) 2021-2022];
particulars of certain proposed additional expenditure in respect of the year ending on 30 June 2022 [Appropriation Bill (No. 4) 2021-2022]; and
the final budget outcome 2020-21 and the advances under the annual Appropriation Acts for 2020-21.
1.4
The Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements for 2021–22 were tabled in the Senate on 10 February 2022.
Portfolio oversight
1.5
The committee is responsible for examining the proposed expenditure of the departments and agencies within the Health Portfolio and the Social Services Portfolio.
Questions on notice
1.6
In accordance with Standing Order 26, the committee drew the attention of the departments and their agencies to the agreed deadline of Friday, 25 March 2022 for the receipt of answers to questions taken on notice.
1.7
Tabled documents from the hearing, along with responses to questions on notice and additional information provided to the committee are tabled in the Senate and uploaded to the committee's website.
1.8
Tabled documents from the hearing, along with responses to questions on notice and additional information provided to the committee are tabled in the Senate and uploaded to the committee's website.
Health portfolio
1.9
At its hearing on 16 February 2022, the committee examined the outcomes of the Health portfolio. Evidence was provided by Senator the Hon Richard Colbeck, Minister for Senior Australians and Aged Care Services, and Minister for Sport, representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care. Evidence was also provided by senior officers of the Health portfolio led by the Secretary of the Department of Health, Dr Brendan Murphy.
1.10
Specifically, the committee heard evidence from all outcomes of the Department of Health, as well as from the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Australian Sports Foundation, Sport Australia (Australian Institute of Sport), Sport Integrity Australia and Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
Key issues
1.11
The committee discussed a wide range of topics relating to the Health portfolio, including:
deaths in aged care (pp. 7–10, 18–19);
COVID outbreaks in residential aged care facilities, ‘on watch’ and ‘category 1’ outbreaks (p. 20);
surge workforce and clinical first responder teams (pp. 13–14, 27–31);
distribution of supplies from National Medical Stockpile and supply to aged care facilities (pp. 15; 34, 39–41);
providers of the vaccine in-reach program for aged care facilities (p. 20);
COVID booster program and the vaccination aged care residents (pp. 21–22);
aged care facilities that intend to close due to staff shortages (pp. 36–39);
home care packages and wait times (p. 39);
$800 bonus payment to aged care workers (pp. 51–52);
aged care workers wage rates and a related Fair Work case (pp. 52–53);
Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission investigation into Jeta Gardens (pp. 44–49);
distribution of vaccines in regional and remote areas in the Pilbara (p. 56);
funding for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (p. 56);
COVID deaths and Omicron outbreak (p. 58);
COVID booster vaccine roll-out (p. 58);
RATs shortages, cost of RATs and financial accessibility (pp. 59–61, 84–85);
reporting of adverse reactions to vaccines (pp. 61–62);
vaccinating children from ages 5 to 11 (p. 72)
accessibility/use of rapid antigen tests by a disabled person, readability standards for medical products instruction (pp. 66–67);
communication with culturally and linguistically diverse communities about COVID (pp. 77–79);
third-dose vaccination rate for NDIS participants and disabled people in group home settings (pp. 91–92);
MBS items for support to quit smoking (p. 75);
current definition of 'underlying health condition' (pp. 92–93);
update on the implementation of the 27 accepted recommendations from the interim reports of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability (p. 95);
mental health support services (pp. 95–97);
GP transition to college-led training (pp. 100–103);
access to GPs in regional South Australia (pp. 104–105);
process to change a catchment to be a GP distribution priority area (p. 105);
changes to Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) (pp. 106–107);
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) out-of-pocket costs modelling (pp. 107–108);
charity status of sport, financial impact of the COVID pandemic on community sport (pp. 108–109);
distribution of funds to equestrian riders impacted by bushfires (pp. 110–112); and
Sports Integrity Australia – national integrity framework, update on the independent complaint handling process (pp. 112–117).
Social Services portfolio
1.12
At its hearing on 17 February 2022, the committee examined the outcomes of the Social Services portfolio. Evidence was provided by Senator the Hon Anne Ruston, Minister for Families and Social Services and senior officers of the Social Services portfolio, led by the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, Mr Ray Griggs AO CSC.
1.13
The committee heard evidence from all outcomes of the Department of Social Services as well as the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and Services Australia.
Key issues
1.14
The committee discussed a wide range of topics relating to the Social Services portfolio, including:
Secretary’s review of Boston Consulting Group contract (pp. 4–9);
definition of poverty and recognition of a minimum level of income (pp. 10– 13);
data on payments, including Jobseeker and carers payments (pp. 14–15);
aged pensioners and workforce participation rates (pp. 15–18);
mutual obligations rules and annual activity requirements (pp. 18–19) ;
crisis payments for women escaping violence (pp. 26–31, 39–41);
cashless debit card monitoring and evaluation (pp. 32–35);
Women’s Safety Summit and draft national plan (pp. 37–38, 41–42);
National Redress Scheme – update on advance payments (pp. 42–49);
National Housing and Homelessness Agreement (pp. 56–58);
COVID planning and preparedness to support people with a disability (pp. 58–63);
data gap on recording people with a disability who die from COVID (pp. 64–66);
accessibility of RATs for NDIS participants and service providers (pp. 68–72);
Mr Stuart Robert MP relationship with companies that have received government funding (pp. 74–78);
NDIA – update on section 100 reviews (p. 78–80);
number of registered NDIS providers versus unregistered providers (p. 82);
Ms Sian Leatham's appointment as complaints commissioner – NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (pp. 89–92);
Community Services Advisory Group on the remote services strategy and broader consultation with remote communities (pp. 97–98);
Services Australia legal fees for class action and Victorian legal aid case (pp. 98–101);
Closure of Centrelink service centres and process to notify community (pp. 106–110); and
debt collection and debt pause (p. 111).
Hansard transcripts
1.15
A verbatim record of the committee's hearings is made via the Committee Hansard, which is published on the estimates webpage.
1.16
References in this report are to the proof Committee Hansard. Page numbers may vary between the proof and the final versions of the Committee Hansard.
Acknowledgments
1.17
The committee thanks the ministers and officers of the Health portfolio and Social Services portfolio who provided evidence and support for the committee's hearings.
Senator Wendy Askew
Chair