Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

On that point—and not necessarily specific to this bill—I am wondering whether the minister might seek for the department to provide me with advice about the expansion of telehealth services in the bush that are in the budget. The only one that I saw was the reinstatement of the loading on the psychiatric service. So I am wondering whether the minister could provide additional detail around the telehealth services in the bush that you just referred to. I am also wondering whether you absolutely committed to working with rural, regional and remote providers to ensure that we don't see facilities closed in an attempt try to meet the requirements of this bill and that you and the government will always act in the interest to ensure that facilities are kept open and the supports are provided to enable them to be kept open in a manner which delivers the appropriate care for the older Australians that rely on the services of those facilities.