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

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. The current shortage of saline IV fluids in Australia poses a very serious risk to the operations of our healthcare system. Last week, you confirmed the government had known about an impending shortage since May 2023. Overseas drug regulators including the FDA, the European Medicines Agency and New Zealand's Pharmac have confirmed that they have minimal to no issues with their national supplies. Minister, now that it has become apparent that this shortage has resulted from your government's lack of action, will you correct the record and admit that this is not, as the health minister has falsely claimed, a global shortage and finally take responsibility for a crisis of your own making?