Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer to the Prime Minister's previous answer. How can the Prime Minister continue to deny a cut of $1.2 billion in aged-care funding in his first budget when it's here in black and white on page 101?

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It's quite simple: it's because funding went up. Funding increased by more than a billion dollars every year under our government in our services to aged care. But, given the Leader of the Opposition wants to talk about previous budget papers, maybe I should have a look at some of Labor's previous budget papers. In 2011-12, Labor ripped over $200 million out of residential aged care. That's in budget paper No. 2 2011-12. In 2012-13, there was a cut of $135 million to these services in budget paper No. 2.

But these aren't the issues that I want to focus on today. We're increasing funding to aged care every year. What I would invite the Leader of the Opposition to do is to say what he has indicated to me and that is that he is very concerned about—and we share this concern—the need to focus together on delivering the aged-care services and the support that is needed for Australians to have that level of confidence. I believe he agrees with that and should say so, instead of coming into this place and getting into the usual childish games of tit for tat on aged care. We can do that all day, if he wants. He can point to his little fact and I can point to my little fact. But the Australian people have had a gutful of that to-ing and fro-ing and bickering about aged care.

Ms Catherine King interjecting —

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Ballarat is warned!

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

That's why I've established a royal commission—to put to rest all of those issues and to put the Australian people first, to stand with senior Australians around the country and to ensure that we work together as a parliament, as a government, to put those Australians first and to give Australians the assurances they want and deserve for their family members—their aunt, uncle, dad, mum, sister, brother, partner, wife or husband.

Mr Gosling interjecting —

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Solomon will leave under 94(a).

The member for So lomon then left the chamber.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

They deserve better than this tit for tat.