The Australian Government thanks the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Sport (the Standing Committee) for their work in establishing and conducting the Inquiry into Biotoxin-related illnesses.

The Australian Government sympathises with, and is concerned for, those patients who are suffering debilitating symptoms they believe to be associated with exposure to mould and/or biotoxins. At this point in time, further research is required into the link between such symptoms and exposure to mould. The Australian Government acknowledges that there is a need to provide better multidisciplinary care to patients.

Furthermore, given that there are many similarities between such symptom complexes and others, such as symptom complexes attributed to ticks or chronic fatigue-like symptoms, there is an opportunity to take a broad multidisciplinary approach and work with patients, health groups and practitioners and investigate how to provide better care to all patients with complex symptom groups that are not yet medically explained.

The Australian Government further notes that the report’s recommendations include issues that fall primarily within the responsibility of state and territory governments. This response is directed specifically to issues that fall within Commonwealth’s areas of responsibility.