Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Didn’t the minister yesterday tell the House that, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, state government expenditure on dental services decreased from $374 million to $327 million between 2000 and 2004? Didn’t the minister wrongly use the out-of-date projected figures when the most recent Australian Institute of Health and Welfare data in this report shows the real figure is an increase from $374 million to $503 million? Why has the minister again blamed the states and why has he misled the House?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member has accused the minister of misleading the House. That is a substantive issue and should be so dealt with.

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I was listening carefully to the member for Gellibrand. Had she used the expression deliberately, yes, it would certainly have been out of order.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am amazed that the member for Gellibrand is defending the performance of the states on public dental health. The member for Gellibrand has been the first to claim that—

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Roxon interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Gellibrand has asked her question.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

there are 650,000 people on public dental waiting lists in Australia—

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Ms Roxon interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Gellibrand is warned!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

and now she wants to defend that performance. She wants to defend the performance of the state governments, which have put 650,000 people on public dental waiting lists.

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Kelvin Thomson interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Wills is warned!

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The answer I gave was based on the advice I was given. It was the best advice I had at the time.

Nicola Roxon (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to present the document, which can be found in the Parliamentary Library, in case his staff need it.

Leave granted.