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Monday, 21 November 2011
Page: 8982


Senator XENOPHON (South Australia) (13:43): I want to go to the issue raised in my second reading contribution and referred to in Senator Siewert's dissenting report, in which reference was made to the evidence given by Frank Quinlan, the CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia. He was concerned the current amendment bill does not allow for cumulative totals across the tables and therefore does not take account of co-occurring disorders. The method for determining severe impairment does not account for comorbidity, as there is a requirement for 20 points in a single table. That has been serious concern of mine and of Senator Siewert. What happens in those cases? Is it the case that, if you do not get to the 20 points, there is no appeal mechanism other than trying to get to the 20 points by some other mechanism—such as by having a reassessment? In other words, is there no safety valve for exceptional cases?