Judi Moylan (Pearce, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Would the minister advise the House what the government is doing to tackle chronic illnesses such as diabetes and how will this policy assist people in the electorate of Pearce?

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

I thank the member for Pearce for her question, and I acknowledge her work as the co-chair of the Parliamentary Diabetes Support Group. Diabetes is a very serious and growing problem in this country, as it is in most developed countries. I regret to inform the House that more than a million Australians have diabetes; 90 per cent of them have type 2, which is lifestyle related. It is often undiagnosed until it becomes evident in serious ill health.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Mr Speaker, what is going on over the other side? We have a bunch of cuckoos opposite—

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

The minister will resume his seat. The Minister for Health and Ageing has been asked a serious question. He will be heard.

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

Type 2 diabetes is a very serious issue. It is lifestyle related. I am pleased to say that the government has introduced in the budget a new program to tackle it. The government has been steadily improving its support for people with diabetes. We put insulin pump consumables on the National Diabetes Services Scheme a couple of years ago. We put Lantus and Levemir on the PBS late last year. In the recent budget we announced a new prevention program involving a test administered by GPs, a diabetes risk assessment consultation and the potential for referral to a subsidised lifestyle modification program. This will not make diabetes go away, but it is certainly another step in the government’s campaign against it. It is estimated to cost $103 million over the forward estimates period. I simply make the point: the government can only afford to invest this additional money in the health of all Australians because we have a good economy. If you wreck the economy, you wreck health policy as well. What you cannot do is trust members opposite to have the money to continue to support a good policy in this country.