Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Xenophon for his question. The department is aware of the article published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry in April this year. The government would be very concerned if children are being inappropriately prescribed medication for ADHD—just as we would be concerned if children who needed medication were unable to get it. In terms of the lower socioeconomic areas of Sydney, the volatility and perhaps also the reasons for the volatility, the Australian draft guidelines on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were developed for the Royal Australian College of Physicians by independent scientific writers. The guidelines are based on a thorough review of current evidence and will provide advice on best practice in the management of ADHD across a broad range of possible interventions. Those are the guidelines that are currently in place.

More than 70 submissions were received when the guidelines were released for public consultation. It is anticipated that the guidelines will be submitted to the NHMRC for final approval in the coming months. The real issue, of course, is that if anyone is concerned about the medication that they or their children are taking they should speak to a doctor. I am not aware of an increase or otherwise in Sydney as a particular area. I am happy to seek additional information from the relevant minister, Minister Roxon, to see if she can provide any additional information. I can say that it is important for parents, teachers and doctors to have clear evidence based guidelines on appropriate management of the condition. That is exactly what the draft guidelines go to. (Time expired)