Consultation Hub

Welcome to the Consultation Hub. This site will help you find, share and participate in consultations that interest you. Below you will find links to the consultations we are currently running.

Alternatively you may search for consultations by keyword, interest or status. Once finalised, decisions will be published under Closed Consultations.

Open Consultations

  • National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry 12 month review

    The National Occupational Respiratory Disease Registry (National Registry) collects data on occupational respiratory diseases to help reduce, eliminate, and improve our understanding of preventable workplace illnesses like silicosis. It was established in May 2024. The Australian...

    Closes today

  • Hearing Services Program Simplification Survey

    The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing manages the Australian Government Hearing Services Program . The program provides subsidised hearing services and devices to eligible Australians. The purpose of this survey is to gather feedback from Hearing Services Program stakeholders on...

    Closes today

  • DIR-218 Commercial release of tomato genetically modified for purple fruit colour

    The Gene Technology Regulator has received a licence application (DIR 218) from All Aussie Avocados Pty Ltd, trading as All Aussie Farmers, for the commercial release of a tomato genetically modified for purple fruit colour. Comments are now being sought on the consultation version of...

    Closes 3 November 2025

  • Support at Home Pooled Funding trial design

    The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing wants to hear from Support at Home providers to help design a pooled funding trial, starting in 2026. Register your interest by 5pm (AEDT) Wednesday 5 November 2025 for the opportunity to participate in an online workshop or give written...

    Closes 5 November 2025

  • NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee Consultation September2025

    The NDIS Evidence Advisory Committee (EAC) was established in an ongoing capacity by the Australian Government in response to the NDIS Review . The EAC will make recommendations to government on the safety, suitability and value for money of supports for NDIS funding , drawing on the best...

    Closes 9 November 2025

Closed Consultations

  • Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Advisory Committee - Vascular Interventional Radiology (VIR) Draft Report

    The Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) is a list of health professional services (items) that the Australian Government subsidises. MBS items provide patient benefits for a wide range of health services including consultations, diagnostic tests, therapy, and operations. Established in...

    Closed 22 October 2025

  • Consultation on regulating product openings for private health insurance

    The Government is implementing a reform that will outlaw private health insurance product phoenixing. This is when an insurer closes an existing product and opens a very similar one at a higher price point, circumventing the Premium Round process. The proposed reform will require private health...

    Closed 17 October 2025

  • Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy Consultation

    Welcome to the Consultation Hub for the Draft National Health and Medical Research Strategy (National Strategy). Australia is developing a National Strategy to guide the future of health and medical research and innovation, strengthen coordination and impact, and improve health...

    Closed 8 October 2025

  • 2025 Influenza Vaccination Reporting for Aged Care Service Staff and Residents

    Reporting of residential aged care residents and aged care staff influenza vaccinations in 2025 As required under the Aged Care Act 1997, Accountability Principles, each aged care service must report the number of residential aged care residents and aged care staff who received an...

    Closed 30 September 2025

  • Consultation: National Oral Health Plan (2025-2034) Framework

    National Oral Health Plan 2025-2034 Framework Consultation We are inviting feedback from the community on the draft framework for the new National Oral Health Plan 2025-2034. Whether you’re a consumer, health professional, student or simply someone interested in oral health, your insights,...

    Closed 26 September 2025

We Asked, You Said, We Did

Here are some of the issues we have consulted on and their outcomes. See all outcomes

We asked

Between 24 July and 18 September 2025, we sought your feedback on the consultation version of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) prepared for the DIR 217 licence application (Commercial supply of genetically modified therapeutic from Ferring Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd).

You said

During the 8-week consultation period, we received advice from prescribed Government agencies, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, and the public.

We heard support for:

  • the thoroughness of the RARMP
  • the overall conclusions of the RARMP
  • the inclusion of post-release review in the draft licence conditions.

Some submissions sought clarification on prevalence and serotyping of human adenoviruses in Australia.

We did

We analysed the feedback provided during the public consultation process in finalising the RARMP. The issues raised and how they were addressed can be found in Appendices B and C of the final RARMP.

The Gene Technology Regulator issued a licence to Ferring Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd for the commercial supply on 17 October 2025. More details, including the final version of the RARMP and the licence, are available at DIR 217 | Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

We appreciate all those who provided input to the consultation – your feedback will help to ensure that any risks posed by gene technology to people and the environment continue to be managed.

We asked

Between 15 July and 9 September 2025, we sought your feedback on the consultation version of the Risk Assessment and Risk Management Plan (RARMP) prepared for the DIR 216 licence application (commercial release of genetically modified cotton from Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd).

You said

During the 8-week consultation period, we received advice from prescribed Government agencies, the Gene Technology Technical Advisory Committee, and the public.

We heard support for:

  • the overall conclusions of the RARMP
  • the licence conditions for DIR 216

We also heard concerns for:

  • the potential negative impacts on people and the environment
  • the cumulative risks of the introduced genes
  • the potential for increased weediness as a result of the introduced genes

We did

We analysed the feedback provided during the public consultation process in finalising the RARMP. The issues raised and how they were addressed can be found in Appendices C and D of the final RARMP.

The Gene Technology Regulator issued a licence to Bayer CropScience Pty Ltd for the commercial release of a genetically modified (GM) cotton on 07 October 2025. More details, including the final version of the RARMP and the licence, are available at DIR 216 | Office of the Gene Technology Regulator.

We appreciate all those who provided input to the consultation – your feedback will help to ensure that any risks posed by gene technology to people and the environment continue to be managed.

We asked

Earlier in 2025, over 200 participants from local government aged care providers and sector peak bodies shared their views on aged care changes.

Thank you to everyone who participated.

You said

Local government aged care providers told us they:

  • have stable and experienced workforces and many volunteers
  • often serve as a provider of last resort in rural and remote areas or for people with complex needs​
  • help older people to understand the aged care system, including referrals to other support services and programs
  • have strong relationships and knowledge within their communities.

Providers raised concerns about:

  • providing aged care services with different funding arrangements, including the setting and collecting of participant contributions
  • increased costs and resources to deliver services in rural and remote areas and for people with complex needs
  • meeting community expectations to help older people navigate the aged care system and manage their cases
  • balancing local council governance and community consultation requirements, with the operational and business requirements to deliver aged care services
  • attracting and retaining staff in rural and remote areas, the cost of training and registering volunteers, and offering competitive employee wages
  • understanding the transition to the new aged care system and changes to provider obligations and funding.

We did

We are considering all feedback for future policy decisions.

If you would like to provide any further feedback on the delivery of aged care services by local governments, please contact us at AgedCareMarket@health.gov.au