Mary Henry (Independent)

Yesterday Senators from both sides of the House raised concerns about the advertising of spurious cures for serious illness by some medical and non-medical practitioners. As Senator Feeney pointed out, if they are advertised by a medical practitioner, something can be done about it. However, there is little that can be done if they are advertised by a non-medical practitioner. There has been legislation from the Department of Health and Children over the past 15 years to try to cover, with rules and regulations, the various professions such as physiotherapy, physical therapy and so forth. However, nothing has been done regarding the gifted amateurs who make these claims and apparently make a great deal of money from them. Will the Deputy Leader arrange for the Minister for Health and Children to come to the House to hear the suggestions Senators might have as to how we could deal with this? It is obviously a very serious issue all over the country.