HEALTH AND AGEING PORTFOLIO

In Attendance

Senator McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers

Department of Health and Ageing

Whole of Portfolio

Executive

Ms Jane Halton, Secretary

Ms Rosemary Huxtable, Deputy Secretary

Ms Megan Morris, Acting Deputy Secretary

Professor Chris Baggoley, Chief Medical Officer

Mr David Learmonth, Deputy Secretary

Mr Chris Reid, General Counsel

Ms Rosemary Bryant, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer

Ms Kerry Flanagan, Deputy Secretary

Mr David Butt, Deputy Secretary

Mr Paul Madden, Chief Information and Knowledge Officer

Mr Andrew Stuart, Deputy Secretary, DoHA National Alignment

Mr Sam Campisi, National Manager, Multicultural Services

Audit and Fraud Control    

Mr Colin Cronin, Assistant Secretary, Audit and Fraud Control

Business Group

Mr Gary Davis, Acting Chief Operating Officer

Mr David O’Brien, Acting Assistant Secretary, IT Solutions Development Branch

Ms Ida Thurbon, Acting Assistant Secretary, IT Service Delivery Branch

Mr David Paull, Acting Assistant Secretary, Corporate Support Branch

Chief Information and Knowledge Office

Mrs Kerrie Reyn, Assistant Secretary

DoHa National Alignment

Ms Kylie Perrin, Acting Assistant Secretary, Change Management Unit

Legal and General Counsel

Ms April Purry, Acting Assistant Secretary

People, Capability and Communication Division

Ms Samantha Palmer, First Assistant Secretary

Mr Adam Davey, Assistant Secretary, Health Campaigns Branch

Ms Julie Schneller, Assistant Secretary, Online, Services and External Relations Branch

Mr Scott McWhirter, Acting Assistant Secretary, People Branch

Portfolio Strategies Division

Ms Kylie Jonasson, Acting First Assistant Secretary

Mr Paul Palisi, Acting Assistant Secretary

Ms Carolyn Driessen, Assistant Secretary

Ms Alice Creelman, Assistant Secretary

Mr Klaus Klaucke, Acting Assistant Secretary

Mr Adrian Davies, Acting Assistant Secretary

Mr Ian McLean, Assistant Secretary, Economic and Statistical Analysis Branch

Office of the Chief Financial Officer

Mr John Barbeler, Chief Financial Officer

Mr Paul Carmody, Assistant Secretary

Regulation Policy and Governance Division

Ms Mary McDonald, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Anne Kingdon, Assistant Secretary, Governance Safety and Quality

Transition Office

Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Acting Chief Executive Officer

Mr Peter Broadhead, Acting First Assistant Secretary

Mr David Mackay, Assistant Secretary, Implementation, Systems and Reporting Branch

Dr Masha Somi, Assistant Secretary, Hospitals and Workforce Branch

Outcome 1—Population Health

Office of Health Protection

Ms Julianne Quaine, Assistant Secretary, Immunisation Branch

Regulation Policy and Governance Division

Ms Mary McDonald, First Assistant Secretary

Mr Peter Woodley, Assistant Secretary, Blood, Organ and Regulatory Policy

Ms Kathy Dennis, Assistant Secretary, Research Regulation and Food

Mental Health and Drug Treatment Division

Ms Georgie Harman, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Fiona Nicholls, Assistant Secretary, Mental Health Services Branch

Ms Phillipa Lowrey, Acting Assistant Secretary, Mental Health Early Intervention and Prevention Branch

Ms Gayle Anderson, Assistant Secretary, Substance Misuse and Indigenous Wellbeing Programs Branch

Population Health Division

Mr Nathan Smyth, First Assistant Secretary

Dr Bernie Towler, Principal Medical Adviser

Professor Rosemary Knight, Principal Medical Adviser

Mr Andy Paras, Director, Cancer and Palliative Care Branch

Ms Helen Catchatoor, Director, Cancer and Palliative Care Branch

Ms Kate Jorgenson, Director, Cancer and Palliative Care Branch

Ms Melinda Bromley, Assistant Secretary, Cancer and Palliative Care Branch

Ms Shirley Browne, Assistant Secretary, Chronic Disease

Ms Colleen Krestensen, Assistant Secretary, Drug Strategy Branch

Ms Janet Quigley, Assistant Secretary, Healthy Living Branch

Ms Sally Goodspeed, Assistant Secretary, Health in Social Policy Branch

Mr Simon Cotterell, Assistant Secretary, Tobacco Control Taskforce

Therapeutic Goods Administration

Dr Rohan Hammett, National Manager

Ms Jenny Hefford, Chief Regulatory Officer

Dr Megan Keaney, Principal Medical Adviser

Mr Stephen Dellar, Principal Adviser (Operations)

Ms Philippa Horner, Principal Legal Adviser

Dr Larry Kelly, Group Coordinator, Monitoring and Compliance Group

Ms Judy Develin, Group Coordinator, Market Authorisation Group

Dr Bill Turner, Head, Office of Manufacturing Quality

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency

Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson, Chief Executive Officer

Professor Peter Johnston, Branch Head Medical Radiation Services

Mr George Savvides, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Office

Food Standards Australia New Zealand

Mr Steve McCutcheon, Chief Executive Officer

Ms Melanie Fisher, Deputy Chief Executive Office, General Manager

Dr Paul Brent, Chief Scientist

Mr Peter May, General Manager

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator

Dr Joe Smith, Regulator

Dr Michael Dornbusch, Assistant Secretary

Dr Robyn Cleland, Assistant Secretary

Australian National Preventative Health Agency

Ms Louise Sylvan, Chief Executive Officer

Dr Lisa Studdert, Manager

Mr John Kalokerinos, Chief Operating Officer

Australian New Zealand Therapeutic Products Agency

Ms Megan Morris, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Donna Burton, Assistant Secretary, ANZTPA Branch

Outcome 2—Access to Pharmaceutical Services

Pharmaceutical Benefits Division

Ms Felicity McNeill, Acting First Assistant Secretary

Dr John Primrose, Medical Adviser

Mr Kim Bessell, Principal Pharmacy Adviser

Ms Beryl Janz, Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Programs and Support Branch

Mr Nick Henderson, Acting Assistant Secretary, Pharmaceutical Policy Branch

Outcome 3—Access to Medical Services

Acute Care Division

Mr Mark Thomann, First Assistant Secretary

Dr Andrew Singer, Principal Medical Adviser

Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Acting Chief Executive

Ms Veronica Hancock, Assistant Secretary, Hospital Development and Dental Branch

Medical Benefits Division

Mr Richard Bartlett, First Assistant Secretary

Dr Brian Richards, Executive Manager, Health Technology and Medical Services Group

Mr Shane Porter, Assistant Secretary, Medicare Financing and Analysis Branch

Mr Alastair Wilson, Acting Assistant Secretary, Private Health Insurance Branch

Ms Penny Shakespeare, Assistant Secretary, Medicare Benefits Branch

Ms Fifine Cahill, Assistant Secretary, Diagnostic Services Branch

Professional Services Review

Dr Bill Coote, Acting Director

Mr Luke Twyford, Acting Executive Officer

Outcome 4—Aged Care and Population Ageing

Ageing and Aged Care Division

Ms Carolyn Smith, First Assistant Secretary

Mr Keith Tracey-Patte, Assistant Secretary, Policy and Evaluation Branch

Ms Samantha Robertson, Assistant Secretary, Aged Care Programs Branch

Mr Paul Hutchinson, Director, Access Reform Branch

Ms Michelle Roffey, Director, Access Reform Branch

Professor David Cullen, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Reform Taskforce

Mr Russell de Burgh, Assistant Secretary, Office for an Ageing Australia Branch

Ms Rachel Balmanno, Assistant Secretary, HACC Reform Branch

Ms Carolyn Brown, Assistant Secretary, Budget, Finance and Information Branch

Ms Shona McQueen, Assistant Secretary, Access Reform Branch

Aged Care Quality and Compliance Division

Mr Iain Scott, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Lyn Murphy, Assistant Secretary, Quality and Monitoring Branch

Ms Susan Hunt, Senior Nurse Adviser

Mr Damian Coburn, Assistant Secretary, Prudential and Approved Provider Regulation

Mrs Paula Swift, Acting Assistant Secretary, Aged Care Workforce Programs Branch

Mr Michael Culhane, Assistant Secretary, Aged Care Complaints

Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency

Mr Mark Brandon, Chief Executive Officer

Mr Ross Bushrod, General Manager, Operations

Mrs Victoria Crawford, General Manager, Accreditation

Mr Chris Falvey, General Manager, Corporate Affairs and Human Resources

Outcome 5—Primary Care

Primary and Ambulatory Care Division

Mr Mark Booth, Acting First Assistant Secretary

Ms Sharon Appleyard, Assistant Secretary, Policy and Development Branch

Ms Meredeth Taylor, Assistant Secretary, GP Super Clinics Branch

Ms Vicki Murphy, Assistant Secretary, Primary Healthcare Infrastructure and Support

Ms Jennie Roe, Assistant Secretary, Medicare Locals Implementation and Transition

Population Health Division

Ms Shirley Browne, Assistant Secretary, Chronic Disease Branch

General Practice Education and Training

Mr Erich Janssen, Chief Executive Officer

Outcome 6—Rural Health

Primary and Ambulatory Care Division

Mr Rob Cameron, Assistant Secretary, Regional Health Australia

Outcome 7—Hearing Services

Regulation Policy and Governance Division

Ms Mary McDonald, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Teressa Ward, Assistant Secretary, Office of Hearing Services

Ms Cheryl Wilson, Assistant Secretary, Office of Hearing Services

Outcome 9—Private Health

Medical Benefits Division

Mr Richard Bartlett, First Assistant Secretary, Medical Benefits Division

Mr Alastair Wilson, Acting Assistant Secretary, Private Health Insurance Branch

Outcome 10—Health System Capacity and Quality

Acute Care Division

Mr Mark Thomann, First Assistant Secretary

Dr Andrew Singer, Principal Medical Adviser

Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Acting Chief Executive Officer

Ms Veronica Hancock, Assistant Secretary, Hospital Development and Dental Branch

eHealth Division

Ms Fiona Granger, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Sharon McCarter, Assistant Secretary, eHealth Systems and Implementation Branch

Ms Liz Forman, Assistant Secretary, eHealth Strategy and Legislation Branch

eHealth implementation

Mr Peter Fleming, Chief Executive Officer, National e-Health Transition Authority

Population Health Division

Ms Shirley Browne, Assistant Secretary, Chronic Disease Branch

Regulation Policy and Governance Division

Ms Mary McDonald, First Assistant Secretary

Ms Anne Kingdon, Assistant Secretary, Governance Safety and Quality

Ms Kathy Dennis, Assistant Secretary, Research Regulation and Food

National Health and Medical Research Council

Professor Warwick Anderson, Chief Executive Officer

Mr Tony Kingdon, General Manager and Head, Planning and Operations Group

Dr Clive Morris, Head, Research Group

Professor John McCallum, Head, Research Translation Group

Outcome 11—Mental Health

Mental Health and Drug Treatment Division

Ms Georgie Harman, First Assistant Secretary, Mental Health and Drug Treatment Division

Ms Fiona Nicholls, Assistant Secretary, Mental Health Services Branch

Ms Phillipa Lowrey, Acting Assistant Secretary, Mental Health Early Intervention and Prevention Branch

Mr Alan Singh, Assistant Secretary, Mental Health System Improvement Branch

Outcome 12 — Health Workforce Capacity

Health Workforce Division

Ms Maria Jolly, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Health Workforce Division

Mrs Gay Santiago, Assistant Secretary, Health Workforce Capacity Branch

Mr Lou Andreatta, Assistant Secretary, Health Workforce Training and Distribution Branch

Ms Ros Bauer, Acting Assistant Secretary, Health Workforce Policy and Data Branch

Ms Paula Sheehan, Director, Health Workforce Support and Supply Branch

Ms Jennie Della, Director, Health Workforce Policy and Data Branch

Ms Andriana Koukari, Acting Assistant Secretary, Health Workforce Support and Supply Branch

Health Workforce Australia

Mr Mark Cormack, Chief Executive Officer

Mr Roberto Bria, Executive Director, Corporate and Finance Branch

Outcome 13 — Acute Care

Acute Care Division

Mr Mark Thomann, First Assistant Secretary

Dr Andrew Singer, Principal Medical Adviser

Mr Charles Maskell-Knight, Acting Chief Executive

Ms Gillian Shaw, Assistant Secretary, Hospital Policy Branch

Ms Veronica Hancock, Assistant Secretary, Hospital Development and Dental Branch

Ms Erica Kneipp, Assistant Secretary, Healthcare Services Information Branch

Ms Ann Smith, Assistant Secretary, National Partnership Agreement Branch

Regulation Policy and Governance Division

Ms Mary McDonald, First Assistant Secretary

Mr Peter Woodley, Assistant Secretary, Blood, Organ and Regulation Policy

Outcome 14—Biosecurity and Emergency Response

Office of Health Protection

Ms Jennifer Bryant, First Assistant Secretary, Office of Health Protection

Ms Fay Holden, Assistant Secretary, Health Protection and Surveillance Branch

Dr Gary Lum, Assistant Secretary, Health Emergency Management Branch

Mr Graeme Barden, Assistant Secretary, Office of Chemical Safety

Dr Jenny Firman, Medical Officer, Office of Health Protection

Regulation Policy and Governance Division

Ms Mary McDonald, First Assistant Secretary

Mr Peter Woodley, Assistant Secretary, Blood, Organ and Regulation Policy

Committee met at 08:30

CHAIR ( Senator Moore ): We reconvene the Senate Community Affairs Legislation Committee to consider the budget estimates for the portfolio of health and ageing. The committee has before it a list of the outcomes relating to matters which senators indicated that they wished to raise at this hearing. In accordance with the standing orders relating to supplementary estimates, today's proceedings will be confined to those matters only. Senators are reminded that written questions on notice in respect of the supplementary hearings must be lodged with the secretariat no later than 5 pm on Friday, 28 October 2011. The committee has set close of business on Friday, 9 December 2011 as the date for the return of answers to questions on notice. Officers and senators are familiar with the rules of the Senate governing estimates hearings, and we have the secretariat here to help if there is anything you want to clarify. I need to particularly draw your attention to the Senate order of 13 May 2009 specifying the process by which a claim of public interest immunity should be raised and which I now incorporate in Hansard.

The extract read as follows—

Public interest immunity claims

That the Senate—

(a) notes that ministers and officers have continued to refuse to provide information to Senate committees without properly raising claims of public interest immunity as required by past resolutions of the Senate;

(b) reaffirms the principles of past resolutions of the Senate by this order, to provide ministers and officers with guidance as to the proper process for raising public interest immunity claims and to consolidate those past resolutions of the Senate;

(c) orders that the following operate as an order of continuing effect:

(1) If:

(a) a Senate committee, or a senator in the course of proceedings of a committee, requests information or a document from a Commonwealth department or agency; and

(b) an officer of the department or agency to whom the request is directed believes that it may not be in the public interest to disclose the information or document to the committee, the officer shall state to the committee the ground on which the officer believes that it may not be in the public interest to disclose the information or document to the committee, and specify the harm to the public interest that could result from the disclosure of the information or document.

(2) If, after receiving the officer’s statement under paragraph (1), the committee or the senator requests the officer to refer the question of the disclosure of the information or document to a responsible minister, the officer shall refer that question to the minister.

(3) If a minister, on a reference by an officer under paragraph (2), concludes that it would not be in the public interest to disclose the information or document to the committee, the minister shall provide to the committee a statement of the ground for that conclusion, specifying the harm to the public interest that could result from the disclosure of the information or document.

(4) A minister, in a statement under paragraph (3), shall indicate whether the harm to the public interest that could result from the disclosure of the information or document to the committee could result only from the publication of the information or document by the committee, or could result, equally or in part, from the disclosure of the information or document to the committee as in camera evidence.

(5) If, after considering a statement by a minister provided under paragraph (3), the committee concludes that the statement does not sufficiently justify the withholding of the information or document from the committee, the committee shall report the matter to the Senate.

(6) A decision by a committee not to report a matter to the Senate under paragraph (5) does not prevent a senator from raising the matter in the Senate in accordance with other procedures of the Senate.

(7) A statement that information or a document is not published, or is confidential, or consists of advice to, or internal deliberations of, government, in the absence of specification of the harm to the public interest that could result from the disclosure of the information or document, is not a statement that meets the requirements of paragraph (I) or (4).

(8) If a minister concludes that a statement under paragraph (3) should more appropriately be made by the head of an agency, by reason of the independence of that agency from ministerial direction or control, the minister shall inform the committee of that conclusion and the reason for that conclusion, and shall refer the matter to the head of the agency, who shall then be required to provide a statement in accordance with paragraph (3).

(Extract, Senate Standing Orders, pp 124-125)

CHAIR: I welcome back Senator the Hon. Jan McLucas and the departmental secretary, Ms Halton, and portfolio officers. Ms Halton and officers, I want to express the committee's appreciation of your flexibility and your willingness to come in today so we can adjust our campaign. I do think it is probably better than being on at 10 to 11 at night, but I do not know. You have often had that pleasure!