Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to Senator Nash, the Minister representing the Minister for Health. I refer to the Prime Minister's statement earlier today:

We made certain commitments in last year's budget and those commitments carry over into this year's budget.

Can the minister confirm that the Abbott government has locked in $60 billion worth of cuts to health and hospitals over the next decade?

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

What I can confirm is that this is a fair, measured and responsible budget. What I can confirm is that this is a budget that is going to lead people to jobs and prosperity. What I can confirm is that this is a budget that is going to give people hope for the future and it is going to give them a positive way forward, across this country, unlike previous Labor budgets that we have seen in the past.

I might refer those opposite to Budget Paper No. 1. Those opposite may not have noticed yet, but overall the health budget increases year on year—indeed, to more than $7.6 billion over the forward estimates. And isn't it ironic that it is those on the other side, including the failed former finance minister, that are responsible—

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, I rise on a point of order going to direct relevance. The question asked for confirmation of whether $60 billion worth of cuts to health and hospitals over the next decade are locked in—not the general background to the budget, not the general health budget, but the cuts of $60 billion.

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

The minister was responding in terms of Budget Paper No. 1, which addresses some of the detail. Minister, you have the call.

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

Thank you, Mr President. Indeed, I was getting to that part of my answer before I was interrupted by those on the other side. As the senator mentioned, the 10-year funding outlook from the Labor government was absolutely made-up money. It never existed; it was never there. They are talking about cuts from money that they were never going to deliver, and they were never going to deliver it because they left us a trajectory of $667 billion worth of debt. That is money we were never going to get to. That is why we focus on making sure that we address the positives. In the forward estimates from this government, overall, the total budget for health funding is going to increase—$7.6 billion.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Can the minister confirm that a further $2 billion has been cut from health, including from preventative health care, drug and alcohol rehabilitation, and mental health services? Which specific services will be cut?

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

Again I reiterate that this is a fair, responsible and measured budget. In relation to the senator's question, we have made sensible decisions that do two things: they move to fix the economic mess that the previous Labor government left us, at the same time ensuring better health outcomes for the Australian people. Now, those on the other side know it.

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, I raise a point of order on direct relevance. I hate to interrupt the minister, but we would like to know which specific services will be cut. That was the question.

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

Thank you, Senator Moore. I remind the minister that she has 29 seconds in which to answer the question.

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

I can inform those on the other side that we will be making decisions about that program that deliver better services and better outcomes to the Australian people, because it is this side of the chamber that realises that a bucket of money does not deliver outcomes; it is about targeted actual program delivery. Those on the other side do not care about outcomes.

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, on a point of order, we have almost three seconds left. I was wondering whether we could get to any of the services that will be cut.

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

Thank you, Senator Moore. I will remind the minister of the nature of the question. Minister, you have three seconds in which to conclude your answer. Minister.

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

I have concluded, thank you, Mr President.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a final supplementary question. Can the minister advise the Senate how much has been cut from the Rural Health Outreach Fund? Which services to rural and regional Australia will be affected?

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

As I have said from the outset, this budget is about ensuring we have better outcomes for health, and that includes for rural and regional areas. Indeed, isn't it interesting that those on the other side continue to be negative? You never hear a positive word from them. They are not asking about the positive things that are happening in regional areas—

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 raise a point of order going to direct relevance. The minister was asked a simple question of detail about what was in the budget: how much has been cut from the Rural Health Outreach Fund and which services will be affected? It is a straight question. I would ask you to ask her to be relevant to the question.

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

Thank you, Senator Wong. I will indicate that the minister has only just commenced her answer. Minister, I remind you of the question. Minister.

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

One of the things that this side of the chamber is focused on is ensuring better outcomes for rural and regional. But, as I was saying, those on the other side are totally focused on the negatives, not the positives. You do not hear them talking about the $20 million for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. You do not hear them talking about the millions of funding for telehealth—those people out in our rural communities—

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

Pause the clock.

Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I raise a point of order, again on relevance. Which services to rural and regional Australia will be affected with the cutting of the Rural Health Outreach Fund? It is a very straightforward and simple question.

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

Thank you, Senator O'Neill. I remind the minister that she has 14 seconds in which to answer the question. Minister.

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

It is this government that is going to do a much better job of delivering services to rural and regional health.

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 raise a point of order which goes to direct relevance. This minister is defying you, Mr President. You have drawn her to the question I think three times and she has not even got close to it. If she does not know the answer, she should take it on notice and sit down.

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

Thank you, Senator Wong. Senator Wong, only three seconds had expired between the last point of order and the minister taking the answer again. I did remind the minister. The minister has nine seconds in which to answer the question. Minister.

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

The irony of the former failed finance minister taking a point of order, criticising this government for fixing her mess, is extraordinary. (Time expired)