Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Can the minister advise the Senate about the good work that the National Centre for Farmer Health is doing in my home state of Victoria and how the government has supported the national centre?

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

I thank Senator McKenzie for her question and for her dedicated representation of regional communities. I would be very pleased up update the Senate on the government's commitment to provide $375,000 to the National Centre for Farmer Health. This is in conjunction with the Victorian government's commitment of $250,000—and want to thank the minister, David Davis, and particularly the member for Lowan, Hugh Delahunty, for their tireless work on this. We were able to provide total funding of $625,000.

In operation since 2008, the National Centre for Farmer Health's work will continue to build on the industry, government and academic partnerships developed initially through the Sustainable Farm Families Program. The National Centre for Farmer Health will bring together university research, service delivery, government and education, by focusing on five key areas including professional training and education, applied research and development, web-based information and services, agri-safe clinics and the Sustainable Farm Families programs.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is an expert in a unique and growing discipline of agricultural health and medicine and, in partnership with Deakin University School of Medicine, deliver the only postgraduate agricultural health training available in Australia. Recent analysis of past students showed over 80 per cent working in rural settings. The Sustainable Farm Families initiative is an award-winning, proactive program that creates a bridge between health services and farm families who do not independently seek out health professionals and information. The program contextualises health, mental health and safety in a business framework, and lets farmers recognise their health and wellbeing as their most important asset. Indeed, over 2,525 farmers from 120 different locations have participated.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate whether the Commonwealth government is providing funding to the New South Wales government to support the work of the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety based in New South Wales?

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

As well as funding the National Centre for Farmer Health, the government has also provided funding of $375,000 in conjunction with the New South Wales government. They are providing $100,000 each year for four years to the Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety. The Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety has provided the research base to underpin the development and implementation of practical intervention programs to assist agricultural communities improve health, safety and wellbeing since this time. It has a national mandate and provides information and services to all individuals and agencies involved in managing the health, wellbeing and safety of those involved in agriculture across Australia. There are many initiatives, including the mandatory fitting of roll-bar protection structures on tractors, reductions in new cases of hearing loss from noise exposure, developing resources to assist rural GPs working with farmers and improving quad bike safety.

Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. Is the minister aware of any alternative approaches taken by government to the issue of farm safety and farmer health?

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

It is this government that understands the importance of farm safety and farmer health, and directing funding to organisations that actively work on prevention. It was those opposite who ignored the pleas of the Victorian state government and the National Centre for Farmer Health to keep it operating. Apparently, their requests fell on deaf ears. The Victorian Minister for Health, David Davis, said:

Our appeal to the former federal Labor health minister, Tanya Plibersek, for a 1:2 funding arrangement with the Commonwealth fell on deaf ears

Labor cried crocodile tears for the centre while refusing to fund it. As a farmer, I understand the need to fund these vital organisations and how important they are in focusing the minds of our agricultural communities and our farmers in ensuring their health, safety and wellbeing. It is this government that will focus on rural and regional communities and this government that will support them to have a viable future.