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

I take the interjection from Senator Abetz; it is a good agreement. I remember Senator Abetz being one of the senators in this place, together, I should say, with senators on the other side, who encouraged me—and I see Senator Polley nodding—to get to Tasmania as quickly as possible so that we could sign a very worthwhile agreement which I know is very much supported by every senator in this place.

The agreement is designed to better streamline the activities of each of the three levels of government in order to speed up the process of providing quality care for older Australians. I will be exploring opportunities in other states and territories to establish similar tripartite agreements and I urge the Labor premiers and chief ministers to follow the excellent Tasmanian example.

These are not ‘bridges too far’; in fact they are bridges that this government has spent 10 years successfully building. While the Leader of the Opposition wrangles with new federalism and forks in the road, the Howard government is getting on with the job of service delivery. What I have had to say here is a very clear indication of just how seriously the Howard government undertakes the task of cooperative federalism. It is a cooperative federalism that is based on genuine consultation, on a genuine desire to work with governments of any political colour in order that we go about looking after the people that we, the Commonwealth government and state governments—and indeed, as I indicated in part of my answer, local governments—are jointly meant to be serving. (Time expired)