Part II: Expense measures (continued)

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• Health and Ageing
• Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs

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Health and Ageing

Additional Commonwealth support for the Royal Flying Doctor Service

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government has decided to provide one-off additional assistance of $1 million in 2001-02 to the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS). This funding will help ensure additional services are available where required and enable more comprehensive reporting by the RFDS.

Additional support for carers of older Australians

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	4.9	7.4	7.6	10.1

Explanation

The Government will provide additional support to carers of older Australians by expanding Commonwealth funded respite services, especially for carers in rural and remote areas, and by subsidising the cost of specialised equipment (such as special beds and lifting devices), minor modifications within the home and the cost of transport. This measure will also ensure that carers have access to emotional and psychological support, including bereavement counselling, through trained counsellors at Carer Resource Centres.

Adjustment of the Reciprocal Health Care Agreement with New Zealand

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue this three year programme, announced in the 1998-99 Budget, which maintains parity in the reciprocal health care agreement with New Zealand by removing access to Medicare Benefits for New Zealand visitors to Australia. The Agreement on Medical Treatment between Australia and New Zealand allows for visitors from New Zealand to be eligible for immediate essential care through the public hospital system, reflecting the arrangements applying to Australian visitors to New Zealand.

Provision for savings of $15.1 million over four years has already been included in the forward estimates.

Allowing new aged care residents a 28 day period of grace from income testing

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to allow a 28 day period of grace for new residents of aged care facilities before they start paying the income tested component of their daily fees. This period of grace allows sufficient time for an income assessment to be finalised for most residents.

This measure will involve funding of $3 million in 2002-03, $3.1 million in 2003-04, $3.2 million in 2004-05 and $3.2 million in 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Asthma Management Programme - restoration of funding

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	1.0	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will restore funding of $1 million previously transferred to 'GP House' in the 2001-02 Additional Estimates context to asthma management.

See also the related expense measures titled Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Programme - Restoration of funding and Withdrawal of funding for `GP House' in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

Better arthritis care

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	1.5	3.0	3.5	3.5

Explanation

The Government will provide $11.5 million to improve arthritis care through access to quality treatment, diagnosis and prescribing information, and the promotion and support of self management options such as improved nutrition and physical activity. The measure allows for the development of a national action plan, development of an arthritis management toolkit and facilitating national bodies to develop medical and health professional education programmes focused on arthritis management.

Better treatment for cancer patients

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	13.1	18.8	20.4	20.4

Explanation

The Government will provide $72.7 million to improve patient access to radiation oncology services, particularly in rural and regional areas, through building up to six new facilities outside the capital cities and funding their operation. Part of the funding will also be allocated to measures designed to attract and retain appropriately trained staff to the new facilities through the provision of ongoing professional education and training designed to keep staff up to date with international best practices.

Capital assistance for aged care in rural and remote Australia

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	8.3	18.0	25.9	26.6

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding of $100 million ($25 million per annum over four years) for grants to assist with the upgrading or replacement of small, high care homes in rural, remote and urban fringe areas; and to provide transitional capital funding for homes needing financial assistance to enable them to maintain ongoing certification. While the Government will make available $25 million per annum, the figures in the above table reflect the expected call on the funds as the upgrading or replacement of nursing homes takes place (with some projects expected to take up to three years to complete). As a result, remaining funding provided through this measure will be expensed beyond 2005-06.

Capital works at the Children's Cancer Research Institute

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will provide $3.3 million in 2001-02 to fund a Children's Cancer Institute Australia research facility at the Prince of Wales Hospital in Sydney. The Children's Cancer Institute Australia is the only medical research institute totally devoted to the causes, prevention and treatment of childhood cancer. The New South Wales Government and the corporate sector will also contribute funding for the capital works.

The Commonwealth's contribution to the Children's Cancer Institute Australia will be funded from reduced advertising in support of private health insurance.

See also the related expense measure titled Reduction in funding for No or Known Gaps information programme to fund Capital works at the Children's Cancer Research Institute in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

Community partnerships initiative

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	2.0	4.0	4.0	4.0

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding of $14 million to community organisations to provide direct assistance to those dealing with drug abuse at a local level. The Community Partnership Initiative aims to encourage quality practice in community action to prevent illicit drug use.

Croc Festivals

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding of $1.2 million in support of the Croc Festivals. The seven Croc Festivals are held in remote areas across Australia and are similar to the Rock Eisteddfod programme. The festivals support indigenous communities in their determination to see their children lead healthy lives without resorting to tobacco, alcohol and other drugs.

Delisting of Caverject from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-7.4	-7.6	-7.0	-6.5

Explanation

On the advice of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and, given the increasing demands on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), the Government has decided that other priorities should replace funding for erectile dysfunction. Caverject, a drug for impotence, will therefore be delisted from the PBS from 1 August 2002.

Enhanced assessment of concessional residential status

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-5.6	-13.2	-13.6	-13.9

Explanation

The Government has decided to target the inappropriate payment of the Concessional Resident Supplement and to improve the practices of aged care providers in assessing the concessional status of residents. The Department of Health and Ageing will identify providers who incorrectly claim Concessional Resident Supplement payments, and will stop future incorrect claims.

Increased access to Medicare claiming through pharmacies

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue funding to ensure that the community will have continued and timely access to 200 Medicare pharmacy claiming facilities that were established under the 1998-99 Budget measure. This measure will involve funding of $2.2 million in each of 2002-03 and 2003-04 and $2.3 million in each of 2004-05 and 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Increased funding for aged care administration

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	7.5	8.2	2.1	2.8

Explanation

The Government will provide funding to increase the capacity of the Department of Health and Ageing to maintain existing administrative service levels for aged care in areas such as compliance investigation, community care programme management and assistance to indigenous and rural aged care services.

Increased funding for drug treatment

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to provide grants to non-government organisation drug treatment services. Funding from this initiative has to date been allocated to 133 non-government treatment organisations offering treatment options including outreach support, counselling, and rehabilitation programmes.

This measure will involve funding of $15.8 million in 2002-03, $16.1 million in 2003-04, $16.4 million in 2004-05 and $16.8 million in 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Increased residential aged care subsidies

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	45.1	45.9	46.9	47.9
Department of Veterans' Affairs	6.1	6.3	6.4	6.5
Total	51.2	52.2	53.3	54.4

Explanation

The Government will increase subsidies for residential aged care by $211.1 million. The additional funding will allow providers of aged care to attract and retain more aged care nurses by offering them pay rates closer to those of nurses in the public hospital sector.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

See also the related expense measures titled More aged care nurses and Support for aged care training in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

Investment in preventive health

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to provide funding to a range of nationally significant public health programmes. They include: immunisation programmes for the elderly and indigenous communities; injury prevention; the National Cancer Control Initiative; tobacco harm minimisation; men's health; environmental health; the National Public Health Information Development Plan; and the HealthInsite website.

This measure will involve funding of $22.8 million in 2002-03, $23.3 million in 2003-04, $23.8 million in 2004-05 and $24.3 million in 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Listing of Glivec on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	23.4	27.0	27.7	28.7

Explanation

The Government will provide funding for the listing of Glivec from 1 December 2001 on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. This will reduce the cost to eligible patients from approximately $6,745 per month to a maximum of $4.60 for concessional patients and $28.60 for other patients. The cost of this measure in 2001-02 is estimated to be $16.2 million.

Glivec, a drug used in the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia, was listed for the advanced stages of the disease after a positive recommendation from the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee, which bases its considerations on clinical effectiveness, safety and cost effectiveness.

Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Programme - restoration of funding

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	4.0	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will restore funding of $4 million previously transferred to 'GP House' in the 2001-02 Additional Estimates context to the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Programme.

See also the related expense measures titled Asthma Management Programme - restoration of funding and Withdrawal of funding for 'GP House' in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

More aged care nurses

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	3.2	5.9	8.5	8.7

Explanation

The Government will provide funding of $26.3 million to encourage more people to take up aged care nursing. This measure provides for up to 250 aged care nursing scholarships (valued at up to $10,000 per annum) each year at rural and regional universities. Universities will be responsible for marketing the scholarships and will be expected to make additional nursing places available.

See also the related expense measures titled Increased residential aged care subsidies and Support for aged care training in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

More care services in retirement villages

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	1.2	2.9	4.9	5.8

Explanation

The Government will undertake a pilot programme to introduce care packages including nursing and other care services for retirement village residents. These services are designed to supplement (not replace) care and services already available in retirement villages. The pilot is based on providing 200 packages (100 high care and 100 low care) commencing in 2002-03 and increasing progressively to a total of 600 packages in later years.

More community aged care packages

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	1.6	6.1	17.1	44.0

Explanation

The Government will provide an additional 6,000 community aged care packages over four years. These packages are tailored to meet the needs of frail older Australians who have shown a strong preference for remaining in their own homes rather than being admitted to residential care.

Services provided in the packages include home help, laundry, shopping, assistance with meals and bathing.

More doctors for outer metropolitan areas

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	12.0	18.0	25.0	25.0

Explanation

The Government will provide funding of $80 million to increase the supply of doctors working in designated outer-metropolitan areas of the six state capital cities by 150. This increase will be achieved through three programmes. Firstly, the Government will allow specialist trainees (who are currently unable to access Medicare) access to Medicare provider numbers in outer metropolitan areas. Secondly, doctors in the `general stream' of the general practice vocational training programme will undertake a supervised placement in an outer-metropolitan area. Thirdly, Other Medical Practitioners who agree to work in a designated outer metropolitan area and register on an alternative pathway to achieve vocational registration will be eligible for higher Medicare rebates.

More support for ageing carers of people with disabilities

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	5.4	6.9	7.7	10.1

Explanation

The Government will provide additional support of $30 million for ageing carers of people with disabilities. The measure will be delivered through three main areas: developing specialist volunteer carers; targeting additional community aged care packages; and additional funding for respite services, which provide carers with transport, equipment and other services as required, to support them in their caring role.

More support for carers of people with dementia

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	2.2	5.3	6.2	6.3

Explanation

The Government will provide an additional $20 million to support carers of people with dementia. Additional funding will be provided to Carer Respite Centres to enable them to purchase residential respite for people with dementia. This respite will be provided by facilities that offer dementia specific accommodation. The measure will also provide for the expansion of Psychogeriatric Care Units to provide quality national coverage under a Commonwealth only programme. These units provide specialist management advice and training to aged care homes and carers in the community to assist them to care for people with dementia.

National Illicit Drug Strategy

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to fund this important programme to allow for the continued operation of the Australian National Council on Drugs, its expert committees, and the Illicit Drugs Reporting and Information Database.

This measure will involve funding of $1.8 million in 2002-03, $1.8 million in 2003-04, $1.8 million in 2004-05 and $1.9 million in 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Palliative care in the community

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	10.0	15.0	15.0	15.0

Explanation

The Government will provide funding of $55 million over four years to improve the standard of palliative care in the community. Funding will be provided for better coordination between hospital and community care, improved education and further support for GPs and other health professionals in palliative care, and further assistance for families of people who choose to die in their home setting.

Productive Ageing Centre

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	0.3	0.3	0.3	0.3

Explanation

The Government will provide $1 million to establish a Productive Ageing Centre within the University of the Sunshine Coast. The centre will conduct research into all aspects of productive ageing: canvass issues around policies and programme developments that would enhance productive ageing; create and organise public education programmes to promote productive ageing; and encourage the study of productive ageing programmes as part of degree courses in medicine, health and social sciences.

Reduction in funding for No or Known Gaps information programme to fund capital works at the Children's Cancer Research Institute

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will reduce funding for the Simplified Billing for No or Known Gaps information programme by $3.3 million in 2001-02 and contribute this resourcing towards a new Children's Cancer Institute Australia research facility. The Government's `No Gaps' campaign does not require the full allocation of funding in this, the last year of the campaign.

See also the related expense measure titled Capital works at the Children's Cancer Research Institute in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

Retractable needles and syringes

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	1.5	6.0	8.0	12.0

Explanation

The Government will provide $27.5 million to fund a product development and implementation strategy for the introduction of retractable needle and syringe technology into Australia. Retractable needle and syringe technology will assist in reducing the risk of acquiring blood borne viruses from needle stick injuries.

Review of pricing arrangements for residential aged care subsidies

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	3.7	3.4	..	..

Explanation

The Government will provide $7.1 million for a review of the current pricing arrangements for residential aged care subsidies. The review will take into account the improved care outcomes that are now required under accreditation, underlying cost pressures including movements in nurses' and other wages, and industry views.

Staying at home - care and support for older Australians

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to fund this programme which will provide essential care for older Australians through the provision of: community aged care packages; continence assistance to make it easier for older people to manage at home and avoid unwanted admission to residential care; Carer Respite Centres and additional respite care for people with dementia; and aged care assessment funding, indexed to growth in the older population.

This measure will involve funding of $73.1 million in 2002-03, $74.5 million in 2003-04, $76.1 million in 2004-05 and $77.7 million in 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Support for aged care training

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	3.2	4.8	5.9	7.2

Explanation

The Government will provide $21.2 million for training in aged care for personal care staff in smaller aged care homes. The funding will provide for courses through flexible or distance up-skilling programmes. It will assist participating aged care homes to pay course fees and other education expenses such as travel and accommodation for eligible staff and provide for back-filling while staff attend training programmes. Upgrading the skills of personal care workers will enable them to free registered nurses to concentrate on clinical work rather than general personal care.

See also the related expense measures titled Increased residential aged care subsidies and More aged care nurses in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

Support for Human Pituitary Hormone recipients

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to fund this programme to enable the ongoing operation of the Australian National Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) Case Registry, maintained by the University of Melbourne. The register, which monitors CJD cases from all sources, will allow the Commonwealth to monitor any increase in incidences of this disease, particularly from the consumption of meat infected with Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis (`mad cow' disease).

This measure will involve funding of $0.3 million in each year from 2002-03 to 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - facilitating the use of generic medicines

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-17.7	-27.2	-28.4	-30.4
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-1.3	-1.9	-2.0	-2.0
Total	-19.0	-29.1	-30.4	-32.4

Explanation

The Government will enter into an agreement with individual producers of generic drugs to facilitate the use of these medicines in return for reduced prices from manufacturers. It will regulate to ensure that prescribing software used by doctors enables the use of generic drugs unless the doctor consciously chooses a brand name alternative. The measure is expected to generate savings of $110.9 million over four years.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - improved data analysis and compliance activities

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue a current programme that encourages the more effective and appropriate use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) pharmaceuticals within Australia and that reduces activities involving the sending of PBS subsidised pharmaceuticals overseas. This will be achieved through liaison between the Health Insurance Commission and the Australian Customs Service, and targeted education and awareness campaigns.

This measure will generate savings of $21.7 million in 2002-03, $22.1 million in 2003-04, $22.6 million in 2004-05 and $23.1 million in 2005-06. Provision for these savings have already been included in the forward estimates.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - increased information provision to doctors by industry

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-25.7	-35.1	-36.7	-40.0
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-1.9	-2.5	-2.6	-2.7
Total	-27.6	-37.6	-39.3	-42.7

Explanation

The Government has reached an agreement with the pharmaceutical industry to improve efficiency and deliver savings to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Under the agreement, industry will ensure that information about the restrictions applying to new and existing PBS medicines is provided direct to prescribers through the network of medical representatives employed by the industry.

This measure is estimated to generate savings of $147.1 million over four years by ensuring that inappropriate prescribing of PBS medicines is minimised.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - realigning patient co-payments and safety nets

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-284.3	-266.4	-256.9	-247.9
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-14.3	-14.8	-15.2	-15.4
Total	-298.6	-281.2	-272.1	-263.4

Explanation

The Government has decided to increase patient co-payments for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) from 1 August 2002 to $4.60 per script for concessional patients and $28.60 per script for general patients. The level at which co-payment safety nets will apply will be increased from 1 January 2003 to $239.20 (concessional) and $874.90 (general).

This initiative will result in savings of $1.1 billion over four years and will help restore the balance between government and patient contributions to the PBS. This is necessary to enhance the sustainability of the PBS, where the cost to government in recent years has grown much faster than patient co-payments. PBS co-payments have not been increased since 1996-97 outside of indexation. During this time, several new and expensive drugs have been listed on the PBS, benefiting a wide range of patients.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - reductions in pharmacy fraud

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-23.3	-52.1	-53.7	-58.0
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-1.8	-4.0	-4.1	-4.2
Total	-25.1	-56.1	-57.8	-62.3

Explanation

The Government has decided to increase the capacity of the Health Insurance Commission to identify and target pharmacies suspected of fraudulent behaviour with respect to prescriptions for the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, with subsequent investigation and intervention when appropriate. This is expected to generate savings of $201.3 million over four years.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - reinforcing the commitment to evidence based medicine

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-9.5	-61.6	-82.2	-91.4
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-2.6	-8.9	-11.6	-12.8
Total	-12.1	-70.5	-93.8	-104.2

Explanation

The Government has decided to introduce a series of programmes aimed at preventing the unnecessary use of Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) subsidised medicines. The measure will generate savings of $280.5 million.

Measures that will be introduced include: increasing the Health Insurance Commission's capacity to monitor and approve authority prescriptions; ensuring greater compliance by doctors with PBS prescribing requirements; community and medical practitioner awareness campaigns; a more detailed consideration process for new PBS listings; the enhancement of PBS restrictions and general practitioner electronic decision support. These measures will contribute to a reduction in the number of prescriptions supplied to individuals in breach of PBS conditions.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Sustaining the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme - restrictions on doctor shopping

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-1.8	-4.6	-4.4	-4.4
Department of Veterans' Affairs	-0.1	-0.3	-0.3	-0.3
Total	-2.0	-5.0	-4.7	-4.7

Explanation

The Government has decided to strengthen and broaden the existing doctor shopping surveillance conducted by the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) to reduce the incidence of patients obtaining clinically inappropriate medicines under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. The additional resources for the HIC are expected to generate savings of $16.4 million.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Visudyne Therapy

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	23.8	29.6	26.6	24.8
Department of Veterans' Affairs	7.9	9.9	8.9	8.3
Total	31.7	39.5	35.5	33.1

Explanation

The Government will provide funding for a new medical service, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin (`Visudyne Therapy'), to treat age-related macular degeneration. This is a condition that eventually leads to blindness and primarily affects older Australians. Visudyne Therapy can halt deterioration in vision for patients with a particular type of macular degeneration, thus enabling patients to continue to live independently. The unit cost of Visudyne is $2,100 per treatment plus the medical fee. Patients may need up to ten treatments over a two to three year period. Under this measure, patients will be able to access the therapy under Medicare and Veterans' Benefits arrangements.

The Government will contain outlays related to this therapy by providing it under a special Determination under the Health Insurance Act 1973. This will ensure that only those patients who may benefit will receive the therapy. The Government intends to enter into a price/volume agreement with the manufacturer of the Visudyne and will review usage of the medical service after two years.

This is a cross-portfolio measure between the Department of Health and Ageing and the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

Withdrawal of funding for `GP House'

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Health and Ageing	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government has decided to reverse the decision taken in the 2001-02 Additional Estimates context to transfer $5 million for the co-location of national general practice organisations in a new building, known as `GP House'. This will take place in 2001-02.

Funding of $5 million will be restored to the Asthma Management Programme and the Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Programme in 2002-03.

See also the related expense measures titled Asthma Management Programme - Restoration of funding and Medical Specialist Outreach Assistance Programme - Restoration of funding in the Health and Ageing portfolio.

Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs

Enhanced training of directors of indigenous organisations

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will enhance the training of directors in indigenous community organisations so as to improve corporate governance within these organisations. This will include the provision of training in nationally recognised competency standards; assistance for further training with mainstream state/territory training providers; and enhancement of leadership skills, particularly for youth and for women. This will lead to improved service and programme delivery for indigenous organisations.

The cost of this measure is being fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

Australian Citizenship promotion

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	1.0	1.0	1.0	1.0

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding of $4 million to encourage eligible permanent residents to take out citizenship and participate fully in Australian society, and to promote Australian Citizenship. This will build on the success of the first Citizenship Day held on 17 September 2001, enabling it to become an annual event, celebrating the meaning and importance of citizenship.

Continuation of the Adult Migrant English Programme special initiatives

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	4.5	4.5	4.5

Explanation

The Government has committed additional funding to continue to assist migrants to become full and active participants in Australia's society through the continuation of increased funding for the Adult Migrant English Programme (AMEP). This increased funding beyond 2002-03 will enable the continuation of the AMEP's special initiatives: the Special Preparatory Programme (SPP) and the Home Tutor Scheme Enhancement Programme. The SPP provides special assistance for those humanitarian and refugee clients who have special learning needs as a consequence of their pre-migration experience, including torture and trauma. The Home Tutor Scheme Enhancement Programme provides assistance to community agencies to enable them to provide English language tuition to migrants.

Continuation of the Living in Harmony initiative

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	3.5	3.5	3.5	3.5

Explanation

The Government will provide additional funding of $14 million for the Living in Harmony initiative to promote the importance of community harmony and address racism. An evaluation undertaken during 2001 demonstrated that this initiative has been widely supported, and has raised awareness of the importance of community harmony. This measure includes a grants programme of $1.5 million per annum to help local organisations address issues within their own communities.

Extension of Safehaven allowance

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to provide protection and refuge to Ambonese through the Safehaven arrangements. These people have no means of supporting themselves and have no entitlement to welfare payments.

This measure is estimated to cost $0.1 million in 2002-03 and is being fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Extension of Temporary Protection Visa allowance

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will continue to support asylum seekers who have been granted a Temporary Protection Visa (TPV) through the TPV allowance. This allowance is paid as an interim measure to those people who do not have any means of financial support in the period between when they are released into the community, and when they begin to receive special benefit payments from Centrelink. This allowance is provided to cover their immediate cost of living expenses.

The costs of $0.4 million in 2002-03 and $0.3 million per year thereafter will be fully absorbed from within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Increase in the permanent migrant intake

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Education, Science and Training	7.2	13.3	19.7	27.1
Department of Family and Community Services	16.5	45.1	79.3	117.4
Department of Health and Ageing	6.9	20.3	35.0	50.8
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	0.6	5.4	6.2	6.3
Total	31.2	84.1	140.2	201.6

Explanation

The Government will increase the permanent migration (non-humanitarian) programme for 2002-03 to a base level of 105,000 places, with an additional reserve of 5,000 places to facilitate effective management of the programme to meet skill shortages, regional or other demand requirements. The programme provides for an increase in both Skill and Family Streams. The Skill Stream will deliver additional economic, budgetary and employment benefits, particularly in addressing current skill shortages in Australia. The Family Stream will provide opportunities for migrant families to reunite in Australia.

Most skilled migrants are unable to access the majority of welfare benefits for two years after arriving in Australia. Expenses within the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio primarily reflect the provision of English language tuition to adult migrants. The costs associated with the Family and Community Services portfolio reflect the expected usage of Special Benefit and family assistance payable to certain skilled and family reunion migrants as well as departmental costs for the administration of the Assurance of Support Scheme. Expenses in the Health and Education, Science and Training portfolios reflect the expected usage of health and education services, by additional permanent migrants.

See also related revenue measure titled Increase in the permanent migrant intake in the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs Portfolio.

Location of new immigration detention facility in South-East Queensland: offsetting reduction in costs

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	nfp	nfp	nfp	nfp

Explanation

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs will reduce expenses over three years in part for the possible purchase of land in south-east Queensland for an immigration detention centre.

See also the related capital measure titled Location of new immigration detention facility in South-East Queensland in the Defence portfolio.

Maintain funding for the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will provide funding of $15.9 million over three years from 2003-04 to maintain funding for the Integrated Humanitarian Settlement Strategy (IHSS) at current levels. This will ensure that comprehensive, well-targeted services are available to assist refugee and humanitarian entrants to begin to rebuild their lives in Australia. The IHSS is a holistic national framework, improving service delivery integration and offering a responsive approach to permanent refugee and humanitarian entrants.

This measure will provide funding of $5.2 million in each of 2003-04 and 2004-05 and $5.4 million in 2005-06. Provision for this funding has already been included in the forward estimates.

Response to the Senate Inquiry for Child Migration

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will commit $3.7 million over three years to assist former child migrants from England and Malta to reunite with family members. This will also include funding for memorials to be constructed in conjunction with state governments. Existing funding for the Child Migrants Trust will continue to provide counselling and family tracing services. This funding is part of the Government response to the Senate Inquiry for Child Migration Lost Innocents: Righting the Record.

This measure will be fully absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Settlement services for migrants and humanitarian entrants

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government will provide an additional $1 million in 2002-03 for the community settlement services for migrants and humanitarian entrants. The additional resources will be available to the Migrant Resource Centres and Migrant Service Agencies, and grants administered under the Community Settlement Services Scheme. The additional resourcing will focus on services to rural and regional areas.

The cost of this measure is being absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Protecting Australia's borders

As at the 2001-02 Budget the costs allowed over the forward estimates for the five years up to and including 2005-06 in relation to intercepting and processing unauthorised boat arrivals was $1,635 million (including defence costs for patrol boats of approximately $340 million over the period).

Since the 2001-02 Budget the Government has provided additional funding of $1,237 million over the five years 2001-02 to 2005-06 (including $322 million in 2001-02) to intercept and process unauthorised boat arrivals into Australia. The Protecting Australia's Borders package includes a series of initiatives designed to protect the integrity of Australia's borders from the endeavours of international people smugglers.

Funding will be provided through the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs, Attorney-General's, Foreign Affairs and Trade, Defence, and Transport and Regional Services portfolios.

Table 4: Protecting Australia's borders: Summary of measures since the 2001-02 MYEFO

Table 4: Protecting Australia's borders: Summary of measures since the 2001-02 MYEFO (continued)

(a) Total does not include net additional expenditure of $174.8 million in 2001-02.

Table 5: Protecting Australia's borders: Summary of measures up to the 2001-02 MYEFO

(a) Total does not include net additional expenditure of $147.6 million in 2001-02.

Additional funding to address unauthorised arrivals

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Australian Agency for International Development	-	-	-	-
Australian Customs Service	-	-	-	-
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	-	-	-	-
Department of Transport and Regional Services	-	-	-	-
Total	-	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government committed an additional $77.7 million in 2001-02 to maintain the existing arrangements for the offshore processing of unauthorised boat arrivals. This funding includes $54.4 million to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs for operational costs on Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, for establishing and operating the Manus Island facilities, and also for a regional ministerial conference on people smuggling, trafficking in persons and related trans-national crime.

Funding in this measure also includes $22.9 million to the Attorney-General's portfolio to increase Coastwatch's surveillance and response capability, and $0.4 million to the Department of Transport and Regional Services for increased service delivery cost on Christmas and Cocos (Keeling) Islands to continue action to deal with the offshore processing of unauthorised arrivals.

The Government committed an additional $3 million in 2001-02 to fund the development of an assistance package with Nauru. This funding is covered in related expense measure titled Funding under the Memorandum of Understanding with Nauru to address unauthorised arrivals in the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio.

See also the related capital measure titled Additional funding to address unauthorised arrivals in the Attorney-General's portfolio.

Construction of a purpose built permanent Immigration Reception And Processing Centre on Christmas Island

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	9.5	8.3	8.3	8.3
Department of Transport and Regional Services	11.6	1.5	1.5	1.5
Total	21.1	9.8	9.8	9.8

Explanation

The Government will facilitate continued offshore processing of unauthorised boat arrivals through the construction of a purpose built Permanent Immigration Reception and Processing Centre on Christmas Island. The capacity of this reception centre will be 1,200 at completion (January 2003). The design of the centre will incorporate appropriate security while taking into consideration the different accommodation and amenity needs of single men and women, families and unaccompanied minors.

This measure covers set up costs, the ongoing costs of depreciation and construction administration management. The capital costs allowed for the construction of the centre and associated works is $195 million over 2001-02 and 2002-03.

See the related capital measure titled Construction of a purpose built permanent immigration reception and processing centre on Christmas Island in the Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs portfolio.

Funding package to the Afghan Interim Authority

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	10.0	-	-	-

Explanation

The Government has allocated funding in 2002-03 to assist the Afghan Interim Authority with the return and reintegration of Afghan asylum seekers. The actual amount of assistance provided will depend on negotiations with the Afghan Interim Authority as to the number and timing of people being repatriated. The early return of Afghans to their homeland will reduce the number of Afghans in immigration detention on Nauru.

Long term strategy for immigration detention facilities in Australia

Expenses ($m)

	2002-03	2003-04	2004-05	2005-06
Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs	2.5	0.3	0.3	0.3

Explanation

The Government has provided $3.4 million to rationalise onshore detention capacity by mothballing the Curtin Immigration Reception and Processing Centre and downsizing the Woome