Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. I refer to the observation of Associate Professor Brian Owler, President of the Australian Medical Association that all of the efforts in improving health outcomes in rural and regional Australia, including the closing the gap life expectancy for Indigenous Australians, will be 'adversely affected by poor policy in the form of the GP co-payment'. Is Associate Professor Owler right?

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

I am always happy to hear the public comments from Professor Brian Owler. But can I say that the best thing this government can do for rural Australia is to fix the economic mess that was left to us by the previous Labor government. When it comes to Indigenous health, I would say, through you Mr President to the senator, that it is this government that is doing more for Indigenous health than the previous Labor government—$3.1 billion over the forward estimates and $920 million this year. Indeed, that is $500 million more over the forward estimates than was received from 2009 to 2013 under the previous Labor government.

This government has looked at bringing in a co-payment, because it is this government that recognises we need to have a sustainable health system into the future and people in rural and regional Australia understand that.

Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. A simple yes or no would have sufficed. But, anyway. I refer to the South West Aboriginal Medical Service, in Western Australia, which the senator recently visited, and comments by the CEO of the service, Mr Neil Fong.Does the minister agree with Mr Fongthat if a mother with three kids has to pay the GP tax four times she won't bring her children—and I quote Mr Fong—'and then we've got no chance'.

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

Indeed, as I travel from one side of the country to the other, talking to local communities, to local Indigenous leaders, I very much appreciate the feedback that they are giving me. I have appreciated the feedback since I have been in this position. Whether it is in Arnhem Land, as I was last weekend, whether it is in Bunbury in WA, just a couple of weeks ago talking to Mr Fong, I am actually listening to what they are saying and I am taking into account everything that they are saying. This government is going to make the right decisions for the future of this nation.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock! Order on my left! Minister, had you concluded your answer? Minister, you have the call.

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

This government is going to make the right decisions for the future of this nation. We are going to do it based on fact and evidence, and we are going to ensure that we have a sustainable health system into the future.

Sue Lines (WA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. According to the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, 12 per cent of Aboriginal Australians defer GP visits for more than a year because of costs, more than twice the rate of the general population. Won't imposing a $7 GP tax further deter Aboriginal Australians from seeking medical help when they need it?

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

Indeed, it is this government that puts significant resources into the delivery of frontline services for Indigenous health. Indeed, as those opposite may not know, not only do Indigenous services get core funding—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock!

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

Mr President, my point of order is on relevance to the question. It was a specific question about the impact of the $7 GP tax on the provision of service.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. The minister is only a quarter into her allocated time for the answer. Minister, you have the call.

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

I am aware of the comments that were made by the senator. But this is about ensuring Indigenous health delivery and I was simply pointing out to the Senate that not only do Indigenous services get core funding this year of around $450 million—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Pause the clock!

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The minister has entirely ignored the previous point of order. The question was a very simple one about the imposition—

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right! Senator Wong, you have the call; ignore the interjections.

Senator Cormann interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

And you're about to knock over Eric!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on my right and my left!

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I would like to say I want some of what you're smoking, but I don't inhale.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order, Senator Conroy.

Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, I'm being provoked!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, you have the call for a point of order.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Mr President. The question was very specific. It was about the effect of the $7 GP tax and, in particular, the deterrence such a tax will have on Aboriginal Australians seeking medical help. I ask that the minister answer that question.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Wong. On the point of order, the minister has nearly half of the time allocated to answer the question. I remind the minister of the question.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. Indeed, the question is about ensuring delivery of health services to Indigenous people.

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I rise on a point of order. The question, if the minister did not hear it, is this: won't imposing a $7 GP tax further deter Aboriginal Australians from seeking medical help when they need it? She cannot just make up another question. That was the question she was asked. The standing orders say 'directly relevant'.

Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Minister for Employment) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, on the point of order: Senator Wong herself read out the words 'further deter'—in other words, bringing in the whole gamut of Indigenous health—so if Senator Wong cannot frame her questions as she should, it is then not Senator Nash's fault.

Opposition senators interjecting—

Government senators interjecting—

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order on both my right and my left! Minister, you have 18 seconds left and I remind you of the question.

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

Thank you very much, Mr President. The failed former finance minister may not like the answer that I am giving, but indeed it is about ensuring that Indigenous people get the health services they deserve. It is this government that is focusing on chronic disease—

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—

Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is this Prime Minister who is selling out Indigenous Australians!

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Wong, you have your manager on her feet waiting to take a point of order.

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 of direct relevance. There has been a series of points of order on direct relevance during this one answer. The specific question was about the $7 GP tax. The minister now has a short amount of time left; she could mention it.

Stephen Parry (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator Moore. On the point of order, I would remind the minister of the question. Minister, you have four seconds remaining for your answer.

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

Thank you, Mr President, and it is this government that is going to deliver better health outcomes for Indigenous Australians. (Time expired)