Senator SCULLION (Minister for Community Services) (7:20 PM) —Again, I support the senator in her interest in moving on from this argument. I know that there has been much debate on it and I have to confess that I do not have the hindsight from having listened to the contribution in the other place. I reiterate that the term ‘assessor’ clearly also includes a medical officer. There is no question that the term ‘assessor’ would include a medical officer. I point you to the position that a job capacity assessor is instructed by the Department of Human Services guidelines that they must—it is no choice; it is not a matter of ‘may’; it is a must—take into account all relevant supporting material, including the treating doctor’s report. As I am informed, and as I read the notes around this, Senator, the current situation concerning a medical officer is just simply to be able to give the assessor the capacity to refer to other assessors, and I think we will have a more comprehensive assessment of that to give recognition to the complex needs of the assessment at the end of the spectrum.

The TEMPORARY CHAIRMAN —The question is that items 37 to 46 stand as printed.

Question agreed to.