Santo Santoro (Queensland, Liberal Party, Minister for Ageing) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Murray for his question because it provides me with an opportunity to say on behalf of the government that the matters that he raises are indeed very serious and this is not a dorothy dixer. I will try to tackle each of the three points made by Senator Murray. In terms of deaths in hospitals, Senator Murray would appreciate, perhaps more than most in this place, that the administration of hospital systems falls very much under state jurisdiction. I could take this opportunity to launch another attack on the Beattie Labor government and undoubtedly other Labor governments who, in my view and in the view of the government, as expressed by the Prime Minister on Sunday, are derelict in fulfilling their responsibilities towards the public they should be looking after, particularly those who are in hospital.

Senators opposite—and I am sure Senator Murray would agree with me—just do not take these matters seriously. They are representatives of parties that are responsible, in government, for fixing problems which Senator Murray quite rightly highlights in this chamber, and they are not being fixed. All I can say to senators opposite is that until they take their responsibilities seriously—and one of those responsibilities is to make their colleagues act responsibly as they administer the health system—they will never be taken seriously. One of their responsibilities is to ensure that they continually represent their constituents. All of those opposite—including, in particular, Queensland senators—are responsible to their constituents. I have not seen one Queensland senator get up in this place and condemn the atrocious performance of the Beattie Labor government.