Tony Zappia (Makin, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister for Health and Ageing. Why is it important for Australians to get behind the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea campaign and how can every Australian take action to reduce cancer?

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

I thank the member for Makin for his question. He, like many other members of this House on both sides, joined the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and about a million Australians who take part in the Cancer Council's Australia's Biggest Morning Tea. It helps the Cancer Council to raise funds for research to prevent and control cancer.

At this event the Leader of the Opposition urged Australians to do all that they could to tackle cancer. In fact, I can quote the Leader of the Opposition. He said, 'We should do all that we can to fight cancer.' So I have just a teensy-weensy suggestion for the Leader of the Opposition about what he could do himself. He could, for example, support our comprehensive plans to tackle tobacco, from the social marketing campaigns, the excise increase, our plain-packaging measures—

Honourable Members:

Honourable members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! It will assist the House if people sit here quietly. There is only one person with the call. It is the Minister for Health and Ageing.

Mr Ruddock interjecting—

The member for Berowra is warned!

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

Members of this House might be interested to know that, since there was an increase in the excise on tobacco last April, we have seen a very dramatic initial effect. In fact, from that excise change, there has been an initial drop in tobacco clearances of 8.8 per cent compared to the previous four years. Of course, all of this funding is being invested in health and hospitals. But this seems to be one of the figures that those opposite are not asking about which appears in the budget. And, very oddly, yesterday afternoon the Leader of the Opposition actually criticised this excise for tobacco. So this means a person who this morning urged all Australians to do all they could to tackle cancer now—although he is in a unique position to do something about it—opposes the tobacco excise, opposes plain packaging and even opposes bans on smoking in cars with kids. Does anyone get the feeling that the Leader of the Opposition was not being straight this morning when he made those comments? But I have another quote.

Honourable members interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The minister will resume her place. The Manager of Opposition Business on a point of order.

Christopher Pyne (Sturt, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Education, Apprenticeships and Training) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek your guidance with respect to this matter. In order to be fully, directly relevant I would have thought that the minister would have announced in this answer when they will actually introduce a bill.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! There is no point of order. The minister will directly relate the material that she is using to the question.

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

The reason this is important today is that we are supporting the Cancer Council's efforts to raise funds to tackle cancer. Mr Abbott himself came to the event and urged all Australians, rightly, to give generously to this cause—although he did, I think, come with an empty wallet, which he wanted to make a joke about himself. However, when the Leader of the Opposition is urging other Australians to do all they can to tackle tobacco—

Mr Simpkins interjecting—

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowan!

Luke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Introduce the bill next week!

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Cowan is warned!

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

We have to ask the question about why he and the Liberal Party do not support plain packaging. I went back and found a comment from Mr Abbott that may help explain this. This is the man who says: 'My parents both smoked heavily when I was a kid. Now, has it done me any harm?' That may be a very good question.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister will bring her answer to a close.

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

We urge all Australians to support the Cancer Council's Biggest Morning Tea, and, to the Leader of the Opposition, we ask him to start living up to his own promises.