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

I thank Senator Moore for her first supplementary question. The Prime Minister has made it clear that mental health is a national priority, correcting an area plagued by bad planning and underinvestment over the years under the Howard government.

The Senate will recall that last week I informed the chamber about the govern­ment's landmark health reform deal struck between the Commonwealth and every state and territory. Today I can inform the Senate about the implementation of these reforms and how they are benefiting Australians in accessing and receiving better health care. We have been improving hospitals through delivery of over 70,000 extra elective surgery operations, we have increased funding, the MyHospitals website has been established and local hospital networks are up and running in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and the ACT. We now have a long-term reform package to increase funding, transparency, efficiency and beds. (Time expired)