Senator BOLKUS --I see that you are assuming responsibility for the National Health Clearances Unit. What was the rationale of moving the responsibility out of Health?

Mr Sullivan --Basically, the National Health Clearances Unit was a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. There was a decision taken by government to commercialise the operations of the Australian Government Health Service. It was decided that, rather than leave the National Health Clearances Unit as part of the AGHS, it would more appropriately be placed in the immigration portfolio.

Senator BOLKUS --I suppose they had the option of leaving it in the health portfolio but charging you for the service on a commercial basis?

Mr Sullivan --That was an option that was possible. We were certainly supportive of the option that they transfer to us.

Senator BOLKUS --Did you get adequate transfer of resources?

Mr Sullivan --We got a full transfer of resources.

Senator BOLKUS --That is almost unprecedented.

Mr Sullivan --I think we were dealt with fairly on resources.

Senator BOLKUS --You will be establishing medical guidelines for use by the medical officers?

Mr Sullivan --Yes, one of the things that we have worked hard on with Health is the fact that we need to make sure that our own medical officers are kept up to date with trends and information. That can only come from the health department.

Senator BOLKUS --That is keeping up to date in terms of information. What about the guidelines that will be used? Are they going to be changed at all from what they have been?

Mr Sullivan --I do not think so at this stage.

Mr Rizvi --We are in the process of updating those. We have made assessments of people who will undertake the task of updating those guidelines. That work is currently under way.

Senator McKIERNAN --The fourth dot point of the performance forecasts talks about a greater proportion of visa grantees being subject to a health undertaking. Can you develop that a bit further? Are they permanent migrants or temporary entries? What group of people are we talking about with regard to those who will be subject to a greater health undertaking?

Mr Rizvi --The Health Undertaking Service applies to permanent migrants. It applies to people who have previously had tuberculosis but have been cleared of TB since that time because they have undergone the appropriate treatment. There is always a question of that disease recurring. Hence, it is appropriate that those people contact the relevant state health authorities as soon as possible after arrival so that their health can be monitored by those state health authorities. The Health Undertaking Service is a mechanism which enables that to take place.

Senator McKIERNAN --It is somewhat of a relaxation, albeit slight, of the current policy, is it not?

Mr Rizvi --No, it has been policy prior to this current government.

Senator McKIERNAN --But it is going to be applied to a greater number of people.

Mr Sullivan --What has happened with health undertakings is that in recent years Health, in cooperation with us, moved to ensure that there was adequate follow through with the health undertaking scheme. The level of liaison between ourselves, Health and state health departments responsible for pursuing health undertakings saw the compliance rate with health undertakings move towards 100 per cent. Once that compliance rate moved towards that, it meant that we believed that more people who would otherwise be refused a visa could be granted a visa subject to such a health undertaking. In recent years you would say that compliance with health undertakings has increased rather than been relaxed.

Senator McKIERNAN --I have a further question regarding the health test waiver, which, because of its complexity and detail, I will seek to put on notice.

CHAIR --Thank you, we will note that. This is a good opportunity for me to table mine as well, although they relate to the Attorney-General's Department. That completes program 1.

[8.20 p.m.]