QUESTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE

Senator LIDDLE (South Australia—Deputy Opposition Whip in the Senate) (14:55): John Wilson's ordeal began long before he died. His first assessment was conducted over the phone. Despite being nearly blind in one eye, unable to walk without a frame, unable to dress himself and unable to even cut up his own food, he was assessed as needing only entry-level help.

Minister, how could your system look at a 91-year-old man in that condition and decide he needed only the most basic level of care? Opposition senators interjecting— The PRESIDENT: I would like to call the minister to answer the question, but I'm not going to do that until there's silence. Minister McAllister.