Mr Price asked the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, upon notice, on 19 March 2003:

(1) How many (a) Service Medical General Practitioners and (b) Service Medical Specialists are currently subject to (i) a formal State Medical Board of Inquiry investigation and (ii) a formal State Medical Board of Inquiry hearing.

(2) In each instance, in which Service does the medical practitioner or specialist serve and which State Medical Board is conducting the inquiry or hearing.

(3) Has the Surgeon General provided guidance to the Services for doctors subject to State Medical Board inquiries and hearings; if so, what are the details, if not why not.

Mrs Vale (Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence) —The answer to the honourable member's question is as follows:

(1) Defence is only aware of one Service Medical General Practitioner currently subject to a formal State Medical Board of Inquiry investigation and hearing in respect of allegations concerning Australian Defence Force (ADF) medical practice. Additionally one service medical practitioner is the subject of an investigation by a Health Complaints Commissioner.

(2) One Navy Reserve Service medical officer is subject to a possible hearing by the Western Australia Medical Board, and one Army Reserve medical officer is subject to an investigation by the Tasmanian Health Complaints Commissioner.

(3) The Surgeon General has no role in the provision of guidance to the Services for doctors subject to State Medical Board inquiries. This role is performed by the Director General Defence Health Service (DGDHS) who has issued Health Directive 909 `Registration of Australian Defence Force Health Service Professional Officers'. Under this directive, Defence health officers including medical officers are required to notify DGDHS in writing as soon as they are aware that they are subject to investigation or disciplinary proceedings by a professional board in respect of their ADF medical practice.