Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Government Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I will pause there for a moment because I think the Liberals opposite do not understand or refuse to understand the work that we have done through COAG, which they were incapable of doing when they were in government. The $600 million waiting list reduction plan has its initial phase focused on patients on long waiting lists, as I have said. That is something that those opposite, Senator Nash, including you, did not press when you were in government to ensure that there was work being done.

In New South Wales, statistics are consistent with this strategy. But, as I said, the Department of Health and Ageing is working with the states to report back on progress to date. I understand, though, that not all the states have the statistics available, and I know the senator has focused in on a particular region quite close to my home state of Queensland. But the other initiatives in the areas of hospitals include $1 billion for hospitals this year, unlike what those opposite—