Penny Wright (SA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

The Australian Greens have heard Senator McLucas's points in relation to the amendments. However, we acknowledge that there are currently significant funds in the Health and Hospitals Fund but that money is not currently being spent. It has not been allocated to hospitals. We have heard from the government that they do not have an intention to allocate that money to hospitals, so the Australian Greens take the view that it is sensible to have those funds, rather than sitting there, doing good investing in the research that we all agree is desirable for Australia and for the future. We understand that it is actually necessary for the clauses that the Labor Party is seeking to amend to be in the current bill to allow the funds to capitalise the Medical Research Future Fund. For that reason, the Australian Greens will not be supporting Labor's amendments.