Nigel Scullion (NT, Country Liberal Party, Minister for Community Services) Share this | Hansard source

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.