Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Report on Budget Estimates 2010-2011
1.1
On 11 May 2010 the Senate referred the following documents to the
Committee for examination and report in relation to the portfolios of Families,
Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; and Health and Ageing:
- particulars of proposed expenditure in respect of the year ending
on 30 June 2011
- particulars of certain proposed expenditure in respect of the
year ending on 30 June 2011.
1.2
The Committee has considered the budget expenditure of the portfolios
set out in their respective Portfolio Budget Statements 2010-2011 (PBS).
Explanations relating to the estimates were received from Senator the Hon Chris
Evans and Senator the Hon Ursula Stephens representing the Minister for
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and Senator the
Hon Joseph Ludwig representing the Minister for Health and Ageing, and officers
from the portfolio Departments at hearings held from 31 May to 3 June 2010.
1.3
The Committee also considered budget expenditure at a hearing on 4 June
2010 on cross portfolio Indigenous matters pursuant to Resolution of the Senate
of 26 August 2008.[1]
Explanations relating to the estimates were received from Senator the Hon Mark
Arbib. Officers from the following portfolio Departments and agency were in
attendance:
Education, Employment and Workplace
Relations
Families, Housing, Community Services
and Indigenous Affairs
Health and Ageing
Centrelink Agency (Human Services
portfolio).
1.4
The Committee expresses its appreciation for the assistance of the
Ministers, Departmental Secretaries and the officers who appeared before it.
1.5
In accordance with Standing Order 26, the date for submission to the
Committee of written answers to questions or additional information relating to
the expenditure is 30 July 2010.
1.6
The Committee discussed many of the expenditure proposals and
information contained in the PBS. These discussions are detailed in the
Committee’s Hansard transcripts of 31 May to 4 June 2010, copies of
which will be tabled in the Senate. Hansard transcripts of the estimates
proceedings are also accessible on the Committee’s website at http://www.aph.gov.au/senate_ca.
Answers to questions taken on notice and tabled documents relating to the
Committee's hearings will be tabled separately in the Senate. Consolidated
volumes of this additional information may be accessed from the Committee's
website.
Program and PBS structure
1.7
During the hearings the Chair called the programs in the order listed
under each of the Outcomes and according to the allocated times, which assisted
Senators to focus their questioning on matters within the programs. Questions
which time did not permit to ask at the hearing were placed on notice. The
structure of the PBS also assisted Senators to more easily access information
relating to particular programs. The amount of information required to be
included in the PBS has greatly expanded the documents, with Health and Ageing
(DoHA) PBS totalling 848 pages and Families, Housing, Community Services and
Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) PBS with 311 pages.
Public interest immunity claims
1.8
During the hearings the issue of public interest immunity pursuant to
Order of the Senate dated 13 May 2009 was not raised.
Questions relating to Bills before Committees
The Chair drew attention to advice from the Clerk of the
Senate that, where Bills are before a Senate committee, the Senate has given
the committee the task of conducting an inquiry specifically into that Bill and
it will not be considered in other discussions such as estimates.[2]
Cross portfolio Indigenous matters
1.9
To assist both the Committee and portfolio departments the Committee
conducted the cross portfolio Indigenous matters hearing in a similar program
format to the previous hearing, with themes and issues listed for consideration
across portfolios. This approach has proven to be a satisfactory way for
Senators to seek information on cross portfolio matters. The Committee
acknowledges and appreciates the assistance of the Department of Families,
Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs in coordinating portfolios
to enable the hearing to be conducted in this manner.
1.10
Regrettably questions could not be asked of the Indigenous Land
Corporation (ILC) at the cross portfolio hearing due to time constraints
because Senators who had indicated they had questions were not in attendance at
the scheduled commencement time for the afternoon session. The Chair apologised
to officers from the ILC who had travelled from interstate to attend the
hearing, and with the cooperation of the Committee intends to try to prevent
this situation occurring at future hearings.[3]
Allegation
made by a Senator
1.11
Senator Humphries alleged that during the dinner break FaHCSIA
officials' conversations were overhead in the cafeteria discussing estimates,
as quoted by Senator Humphries:
It has been
put to me, however, that a conversation was overheard at your table, and my
informant relates to me a conversation along these lines. Secretary: 'You could
refer them to page 66 – "Yes, Senator" – page 243, then to
appendices.' Other official: 'And take your time.' Secretary: 'And take your
time.' Other official: 'Just slow him right down.'[4]
Senator Humphries further
commented:
I, of course, would be aghast if anybody appearing before the
estimates committee saw it as their role to make more difficult the exercise of
this committee to actually obtain information.[5]
1.12
The Chair responded 'Senator, it is most unusual to actually quote from
an overheard conversation in this Senate estimates'.[6]
1.13
Dr Harmer, the Departmental Secretary, assured the Committee that:
FaHCSIA has a very good reputation for being helpful. ... We
try to be as helpful as we can in answering questions. We do not play games.
... And I certainly do not recall any such conversation.[7]
1.14
Dr Harmer further commented: 'Can I just say it is very difficult. It
places the department and me in a very difficult position when we are asked to
deal with allegations such as that. It is not possible to defend yourself
against that. To which the Chair replied: 'No, it is not. It is an alleged
conversation'.[8]
1.15
Departments were required to answer 710 questions on notice relating to
the additional estimates (some involving numerous parts to the question), which
totalled 1060 pages of answers. The Committee acknowledges the Departments' huge
efforts in providing answers to this very large number of questions on notice. Both
DoHA and FaHCSIA provided almost half of the answers by the due date. The
majority of the remaining answers were progressively provided during the
following month, and the remaining few were provided just prior to or at the
commencement of the budget hearings.
1.16
At the commencement of the DoHA hearings, in answer to Senator
Fierravanti-Wells' questions concerning her few remaining outstanding answers
in relation to GP Super Clinics, the Senator was advised that DoHA had 425
questions on notice which involved 938 parts, and over 98 per cent of the
answers had been provided.[9]
The remaining outstanding answers were provided within two hours of the
commencement of the hearing.
Issues
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs portfolio
1.17
The Committee asked a range of questions covering corporate and
cross-outcome matters which included details of staff numbers, including
employment of staff with a disability, funding for advertising campaigns,
hospitality spending, protocols in relation to the provision of data requested
by the Parliamentary Library, and contracts for services entered into with
Australian Disability Enterprises.[10]
1.18
Quite a number of questions were asked concerning Ms Rein's (the Prime
Minister's wife) role, and her possible involvement in assisting in policy
development, to bring about improvements for people with disability. The
Committee was advised that Ms Rein has a particular interest in this area, such
as providing people with better accessibility to buildings by improving design.[11]
Further questions on Ms Rein's role were asked during the housing outcome
questioning, including the National Dialogue on Universal Housing Design
meetings and in what capacity Ms Rein attended.[12]
1.19
Senators sought information on matters relating to seniors that included
cost of living pressures, pension rates, indexation, superannuation and
retirement income policy, allowances, the pension bonus scheme, work bonus,
concessions and services.[13]
1.20
Discussions covering a wide range of housing matters occupied a large
amount of the hearing time. The majority of Senators' questions related to the
stimulus package; the National Affordable Housing Agreement (NAHA);
implementation of housing programs and projects; progress with social housing
initiatives, including sustainability benchmarks; the National Rental
Affordability Scheme (NRAS), and homelessness prevention strategies. Some
questions were also asked concerning the implementation of the national
partnership agreement in the Northern Territory, including the Strategic
Indigenous Housing Infrastructure Program (SIHIP). The National Housing Supply
Council was also discussed.[14]
1.21
Questions relating to family support matters mainly covered early intervention
services, including specialised services for particular needs. A number of
questions were asked with regard to family relationship services and centres.
Family Tax Benefit payments were also included in discussions. Senators also
sought detailed information on a wide range of paid parental leave matters.[15]
1.22
Information was sought on a number of issues relating to women. The
Office for Women informed the Committee of their staffing numbers, funding,
including the Respectful Relationships campaign funding and progress with
current projects. Support and assistance for victims of people trafficking were
discussed, as well as telephone counselling contracts, the interdepartmental
committee on women, and national women's alliances.[16]
1.23
The Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency (EOWA) informed
the Committee that recommendations are being developed following the review of
the EOWA Act. Funding and staffing were discussed, as well as the number of
non-compliant organisations and details of measures being taken and support
provided to assist with compliancy. The gender pay gap and difficulties in
improving this were also discussed.[17]
1.24
Senators asked a number of questions in relation to disability and carer
matters, which included grants in support of disabilities and disability
program funding. Australian Disability Enterprises projects, contracts and
services; the National Disability Strategy; strategies for raising awareness to
increase employment of people with disability; and difficulties faced by people
with disability were discussed in some detail. Further matters included in
discussions were special disability trusts, the assessment process for
eligibility for the disability support pension. The Committee advised FaHCSIA that
it had received strong feedback that the Personal Helpers and Mentors Program
(PHaMs) had been strongly supported and well liked by the community. With
regard to questions relating to funding for PHaMs FaHCSIA advised that round 4 had
been finalised and the full rollout of the program would be completed in
2010-11. In remote regions funding had already been provided for communities in
the APY Lands, Yuendumu and the Kimberley.[18]
1.25
Matters relating to community capability and the vulnerable included
questions on adventure playgrounds, the national compact, volunteering
strategy, the Victorian bushfires recovery strategy, income management, and
money management and financial counselling services.[19]
Health and Ageing portfolio
1.26
The Committee sought information relating to a number of corporate issues
and matters which cross outcomes. Health and hospital reform measures were the
major topics on which Senators sought detailed information, including the
consultation and COAG process, national partnership agreements, and intended
outcomes.[20]
1.27
Senators asked questions of the Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare (AIHW) relating to data collection for alcohol and drug treatment
services, national minimum data sets, and collection of health data for
Indigenous Australians. AIHW advised the Committee that progress had been made
in improving data collection.[21]
1.28
Acute care matters included details of costings for acute hospital beds,
the advertising campaign to inform the public with regard to the Government's
health reform plan, and cost shifting.[22]
Matters discussed with the National Blood Authority included the impact of
climate change on blood supply, and possible impact of viruses on blood supply.[23]
1.29
Senators asked questions of the Australian Organ and Tissue Donation and
Transplantation Authority with regard to staffing matters, audits, organ
donation rates and measures to increase donations, the DonorTrac system., and
the public awareness program DonateLife Family.[24]
1.30
A wide range of aged care matters were discussed at length and in
considerable detail, including complaints involving aged care facilities;
reviews undertaken; inconsistency of the ACAT assessment; aged care workforce;
community visitors scheme; indexation of accommodation charges; community care
and HACC services; transition care program; aged care approvals round; and
unallocated bed licences. The Committee was pleased to hear that the number of
young people in permanent residential care had decreased by 32.4 per cent. The
Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency informed Senators with regard to
accreditation standards, unannounced visits to aged care facilities, and
accreditation reviews.[25]
1.31
Senators questioned DoHA on a number of matters relating to GP Super
Clinics, including locations, roll-out, service delivery, and timeframes for
particular clinics to become fully operational. Medicare Locals were also
discussed and the General Practice Education and Training agency informed the
Committee about workforce planning and expected outcomes.[26]
1.32
With regard to private health insurance the main topic for discussion related
to private health insurance rebates. The Private Health Insurance
Administration Council and Private Health Insurance Ombudsman also answered
Senators questions concerning private health insurance, particularly with
regard to membership and complaints.[27]
1.33
Senators sought information relating to the Pharmaceutical Benefits
Scheme including the market share of Medicines Australia and the Generic
Medicines Industry Association, off-patent medicines, generic and non-generic
prescribing, savings measures, price disclosure, home medication reviews under
community pharmacy, the fifth community pharmacy agreement, and the life saving
drugs program.[28]
1.34
Questions relating to hearing services included long waiting times
involved in obtaining vouchers, telephone delays in contacting hearing
services, minimum hearing loss thresholds, and funding availability for early
intervention, particularly for children.[29]
1.35
In response to Senators' wide-ranging questions relating to vaccines,
particularly seasonal and swine flu vaccines and pandemic preparedness; the
impact of Hendra and other viruses, the Chief Medical Officer, Professor
Bishop, and DoHA officers provided very informative and detailed answers.[30]
1.36
Matters were discussed in some detail relating to access to medical
services which included professional indemnity insurance for midwives, the teen
dental program, chronic disease dental scheme, issuing of magnetic resonance
imaging (MRI) licences, positron emission tomography (PET), uncapping of pathology
collection centres and pathology services.[31]
1.37
The Professional Services Review agency informed the Committee with
regard to their role in reviewing medical practitioners referred to them by
Medicare for possible inappropriate claiming of Medicare items.[32]
1.38
Mental health matters were discussed at some length, particularly with
regard to funding allocations under COAG, funding for specific programs and new
programs and services, changes to existing programs and the concerns of some
allied health professionals, evaluation of existing programs, and provision of
mental health services in rural areas.[33]
1.39
Senators sought information relating to e-health records and the
operation and control of a personally controlled electronic health record
system, and issue and security of health care identifier numbers.[34]
1.40
Cancer Australia agency updated the Committee on their expansion of
partnerships and collaborative arrangements with organisations, and the
increase in consumer participation to improve cancer outcomes.[35]
The National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre also informed Senators,
particularly with regard to support provided to women in rural areas diagnosed
with breast cancer, measures to increase the knowledge of Indigenous women with
breast cancer, and the Breast Cancer Network Australia partnership. The
Committee was also updated on the Centre's activities relating to ovarian
cancer.[36]
1.41
Questions put to the National Health and Medical Research Council
(NHMRC) included advice sought from other government departments and key stakeholders
when preparing their publication titled 'A new food guidance system for
Australia'. Details of medical research projects and funding for cancer centres
were also provided.[37]
1.42
Food Standards Australia New Zealand answered questions relating to Bisphenol-A
(BPA) Australian standards, and food standards in vulnerable population groups
such as nursing homes.[38]
Questions to the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
(ARPANSA) included report recommendations relating to an incident that occurred
at the radioisotope production facility at Lucas Heights, inspection programs,
and airport body scanners.[39]
1.43
Matters discussed with the Therapeutic Goods Administration included
problems with orthopaedic prostheses and breast implants, re-use of single-use
heart catheters, and thermal breast scanners used by some complementary
medicine providers.[40]
Other population health questions included the diabetes initiative, national
health survey, bowel cancer screening program, Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden
Foundation program, monitoring of notification of infectious diseases such as
HIV-AIDS and evaluation, and the illicit drugs campaign.[41]
1.44
Health workforce matters included details of programs to encourage an
increase in nurse numbers, the General Practice rural incentives program,
retention and relocation incentives, GP rural locum program, dental training –
expanding rural placements program, international recruitment strategy, rural
Australia medical undergraduate scholarship scheme, the number of GPs and
specialists trained by health workforce initiatives.[42]
Health Workforce Australia further informed the Committee on the role of the
agency to provide for an integrated national approach to the health workforce,
including funding, grant programs to enhance training opportunities for
undergraduates, staff positions and recruitment.[43]
1.45
Senators' questions with regard to rural health included funding for the
following programs: Royal Flying Doctor Service; rural primary health services
program; medical outreach assistance program; and national rural and the remote
health infrastructure program. DoHA also explained how these programs would
integrate with the Medicare Local and local hospital networks. The patient
assisted travel scheme was also discussed.[44]
1.46
Matters relating to sport included security arrangements in relation to
the Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, active after-school communities program,
FIFA World Cup bid. Questions to the Australian Sports Commission included
talent identification and support for the next generation of Australian Olympic
champions, advancement of women in sport, support for greater participation in
sport with the assistance of scholarships and grants.[45]
Cross portfolio Indigenous matters
1.47
Senators sought answers to Indigenous issues questions from various
portfolio Departments and agencies under the thematic headings detailed on the
hearing program. The majority of questions were on a wide range of issues
relating to the Closing the Gap initiative and the Northern Territory Emergency
Response.
1.48
A range of questions were asked relating to FaHCSIA's response to the
paper by researchers from the Menzies School of Medical Research titled Impact
of income management on stores sales in the Northern Territory. Also
included in discussions were income management, Outback Stores, the provision
of fresh food to improve diets and Indigenous health outcomes.[46]
1.49
The Coordinator General for Remote Indigenous Services, Mr Gleeson,
informed the Committee with regard to progress on the implementation of the
COAG remote service delivery partnership, which encompasses 29 communities
across the Northern Territory, Western Australia, Queensland, South Australia
and New South Wales.[47]
1.50
Questions to Centrelink included the Indigenous Community Volunteers program,
the Basics Card, expansion of income quarantining to the remainder of the
Northern Territory, and merchant take-up of the new Basics Card.[48]
1.51
A wide range of questions were asked by Senators relating to progress under
the National Partnership Agreement on Remote
Indigenous Housing for new and refurbished houses across jurisdictions.
Contract management and Indigenous employment opportunities were also
discussed, as well as Indigenous home ownership and tenancy agreements.[49]
1.52
Indigenous health matters included funding for provision and further
roll-out of Opal fuel and the difficulties encountered with retailers, and
petrol sniffing diversionary programs. Questions were also asked relating to
funding for GP clinics and services; optometry services; child health and
dental checks and services; the rollout of the trachoma eradication program,
and dialysis services. The foetal alcohol spectrum disorder was discussed
including prevention strategies and development of a diagnostic screening tool.[50]
1.53
Indigenous Business Australia informed the Committee of the assets under
management; lending, assessment and risk management strategies.[51]
1.54
A range of Indigenous employment matters were discussed with DEEWR
including Indigenous unemployment rates, and the impact on communities
resulting from changes to Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP). The
Committee was advised that 'the way in which CDEP has changed is that there is
a greater focus on work readiness and community development'. The Indigenous
Economic Development Strategy was also discussed.[52]
1.55
In addition to the above issues a number of administrative and process
issues were discussed during the estimates hearings and these are detailed in
the Hansard transcripts of evidence.
Senator Claire Moore
Chair
June 2010
Navigation: Previous Page | Contents