Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the minister's inability to answer my question yesterday about the DonateLife program, despite it being discussed at Senate estimates. Now that she has had the opportunity to be briefed, I ask again: can the minister advise the Senate if any grants have been made since the new grants approval process was put in place?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank Senator McLucas for her question. The senator will be pleased to be informed that the government has indeed approved the funding for the consideration of the Community Awareness Grants round, and that that round is currently being considered by the OTA.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I am pleased to receive that answer. Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate when that decision was made?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The senator would be aware that the decision was made quite recently. In terms of the specific date—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will certainly advise the senator of the specific date. But I think it is very important to remember that this government, compared to the previous government, has a plan for the future of this nation: delivering a safer, stronger Australia. Now, we actually have a plan, unlike the previous government, to ensure that we have sustainability across our portfolios into the future—unlike the previous government—and we will be making the appropriate decisions accordingly.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I ask the minister: when were applicants notified of their success in receiving that funding; and when will the funding actually become physically available so that they can undertake the work to promote organ and tissue donation in our community?

Fiona Nash (NSW, National Party, Assistant Minister for Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Clearly, the senator was not listening to my first answer very closely. I did indicate to the chamber that the funding for the round had been approved and that the OTA was now considering that and was in the stages of finalising the process. So the process is yet to be completed.