Concetta Fierravanti-Wells (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

I thank Senator Smith for his question. Today the Minister for Health has announced a massive boost to medical research in Australia. The Turnbull government will invest $640 million to support Australia's world-leading health and medical researchers. Cancer research continues to be a major priority for this government, with $109 million allocated to projects for research into better cancer detection, treatments, care and cures, over $96 million for cardiovascular disease and $48 million for diabetes research. Over $53 million will be targeted through research projects that aim to help four million Australians who suffer from a form of mental health illness each year. Prioritising the health of Indigenous Australians is again a focus, with an additional $31 million.

The National Health and Medical Research Council is introducing a new initiative to reduce the gap in funding rates between male- and female-led investigators for project grants. Across Australia, 732 projects will receive funding for research into the areas mentioned and also other national health priority areas such as injury, dementia, obesity, asthma, arthritis and osteoporosis. Today's announcement, once again, proves the Turnbull government has a rock-solid commitment to the health and the better health of Australians. Compare that with those opposite and what they did at the last federal election—