Ms Catherine Kellaghan:

I want to clarify that figure, because it has been mentioned a few times. The figure of 27,000 refers to the number of discrete decisions made on disability allowance applications in 2014. However, that would also include applications that were initially disallowed and subsequently allowed after more information was provided. There was actually a total of about 21,000 discrete new applications for disability allowance in 2014. The figures mentioned by the Senator are, therefore, is not exactly comparable.