Mr. Shaun Flanagan:

My understanding is that what we would do is assess on the previous means test unless was a change in circumstance. If there was a change in circumstance obviously the means test would recommence. If there is a specific case where the Senator feels we have been awkward or inappropriate we would be quite happy to look at it to try to learn from any mistake we might make. Generally we do not try to put people through multiple means tests if we can avoid it. We try to be as efficient as we can.

The Senator also asked about discretionary medical cards. We must remember that the discretion relates to how we apply the means and financial thresholds. It is not that we decide that individuals get a medical card purely on the basis of a disease. The system is based on means. We manage the means and look at people's expenses. Then we look at their medical expenses. As part of this process we use a burden of illness questionnaire to try to maximise or capture medical costs. This is what the discretion relates to. It relates to how we apply the financial thresholds, taking into account the costs of the disease and the challenges for the individual of paying for the treatment that arises out of it. I hope this answers the question.