The Health Department's recent report on The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents in Australia does not once mention autism. In this respect, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia regards the report as negligent. The report was signed off by the Health Minister.
Autism is a growing issue for Governments in Australia since:
A disability advocate, Ms Julie Phillips, wrote this letter (link here PDF 3.5Mb) to the David Bowen, CEO of the NDIA, about early intervention for autism spectrum disorder. The letter starts:
I refer to the recent article in The Australian earlier this week 'Autism Cost Estimates Wrong'.
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4) received the response below from Gary Knox to our email that asked several questions.
Mr Knox's response describes material that is well known to us; particularly in relation to Impairment Table 7 - Brain Function. And it describes Centrelink's review system and the possibility of appealing a review to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4) received a response from James Kemp in your Department.
I am sorry, but I cannot see how his response relates to the matters mentioned in the meeting request (see http://a4.org.au/node/1118). Please consider the meeting request that we sent to you on 5/11/2015.
regards
Bob Buckley
Convenor, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia
Dear The Hon. Mr C Porter MP,
Minister for Social Security
Today I spoke with Lucy in your office. She asked me to write to you.
Recently, I have been contacted about several people who were told that Centrelink has reassessed them and they no longer qualify for Disability Support Pension because they have Asperger's Syndrome.
