Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer the minister to the Prime Minister's pre-election promise that, 'No cuts to health means no cuts to mental health.' Given that one in five Australians will at some point suffer from a mental illness, can the minister guarantee to the Senate that there will be no cuts to front-line services in mental health?

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

I thank the senator for his question. I think there is no doubt that it is we on this side of the chamber who have the commitment to front-line services. Indeed, it is this government who have said that we are going to ensure that the commitment is to front-line services, that funding goes to where it is needed, and where it is needed most is those front-line services. Very clearly, mental health is a very important issue, particularly in rural and regional areas such as where I am from, as Senator Sterle would well know. This government will adhere to ensuring that the delivery of mental health services is done and that that delivery goes to front-line services. That is where the need is.

It is interesting that we are getting questions in this area from those on the other side, because when we look at their record on health and when we look at the fact of the three supposed historic health agreements—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order on relevance. The question was specifically about a guarantee of funding.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question. The minister still has 57 seconds remaining to address the question.

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

I was very clearly answering the question in stating the fact that this government's focus is going to be ensuring the delivery of front-line services, which includes mental health. That means ensuring that those services are available right across the nation, particularly to those in rural and regional communities. So indeed I am answering the question, Mr President.

When we look at the health record of those opposite, it becomes a stark contrast as to which side of this chamber is properly going to deliver health services for the regions and indeed the nation as a whole.

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I refer the minister to the review of mental health funding promised by the coalition during the election. Can the minister guarantee that Partners in Recovery, a service that provides families and carers with a way of ensuring care for individuals that can be tailored to individual needs, will be safe from your chopping block?

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

As the senator would know, there is no chopping block, and I certainly disagree with the assertion that the senator has made. Senators would be well aware of the economic situation that the previous Labor government has left for this nation. The government is considering future directions for a range of programs, as those on the other side well know. Unlike the previous government's—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order, again in terms of direct relevance. This question was particularly about the Partners in Recovery program. Could you draw that to the attention of the minister?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I cannot instruct or tell the minister how to answer the question. The minister is addressing the question and still has 31 seconds remaining to address the question.

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

As I have indicated to the Senate, the government is considering future directions for a range of programs. We are doing so because, unlike the previous government's record of waste, economic management and ill-thought-through policy on the run, this government—

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I again rise on a point of order going to relevance. After the last point of order, referring particularly to Partners in Recovery—

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Just wait a minute, Senator Moore. There is discussion going on across the table in front of me, as well as across the chamber, which is disorderly.

Claire Moore (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Women) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In regard to relevance, Mr President, after the last point of order particularly pointed out Partners in Recovery, we now have 11 seconds and we have not heard about that program.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Again I say that I cannot tell the minister how to answer the question, but the minister has 11 seconds remaining to address the question.

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

I can indicate to the chamber that this government will be honouring all our commitments in relation to health, and we will be ensuring delivery to services where it is needed. (Time expired)

Glenn Sterle (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Minister, why won't the government release the Commission of Audit until after the Western Australian Senate election? What cuts to mental health are you hiding?

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

The matter of the timing of the release of the Commission of Audit was canvassed yesterday in this chamber, I believe, and the government is considering the report from the Commission of Audit. As those on the other side would know, the Henry tax review was considered 'for my eyes' by the previous Labor government, for a period of six months, as I understand it. So we will be ensuring the proper consideration of the Commission of Audit, and the proper processes will be followed in terms of releasing it.