Dr. Devesh Singh:

I thank the Senator. I take her point about the medical assessments. First, refusal for long-term disability payments of 45% to 50% across European jurisdictions is not very unusual. I have seen it in a lot of the literature and it does not make us out of place compared to other European jurisdictions. However, I take the Senator's point strongly in that the process needs to meet people's needs at a time they are most in need of it, rather than have it drag on for months. We have looked at reasons that happens. We have tried to improve what we can from our side by improving application forms and communication. I still remember the intensive 22 recommendations regarding the domiciliary care allowance, which the Minister at the time commissioned in 2012. It was very good work.

There is also some sort of behaviour that I cannot explain. When I look at application forms at claim stage, and when I look at them at appeal trying to learn, for my own knowledge, what the reasons were for them being found ineligible at appeal, I find that there were reports, investigations, results, computed tomography, CT and magnetic resonance imaging, MRI scans dated prior to the claim assessment stage. I wonder why it was not given to us at claim stage. I do not want to be quoted on this but there is some belief out there that maybe people should hold things back until they get to appeal, and that is where they will get the best bang for one's buck, or something to that effect. There are a number of reasons. I take the Senator's points, we will look at these and see if there is anything more we can do with regard to the work of the Green Paper reforms.