Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the minister representing the Minister for Health, Senator Gallagher. Why is the government creating uncertainty for people with serious medical conditions by refusing to confirm funding commitments? On 1 March 2022, now Minister Butler announced funding for the Patient Pathways telehealth nurse program from 1 July 2022 as an election commitment. He has now stated that funding for the program is still being finalised and will be delivered, if it is delivered, through the October budget, but is still subject to an independent evaluation. Why is the government now forcing the provider into a period of uncertainty?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'll have to take that question on notice. I understand the bits around going through the budget process, because those decisions are still underway. And as Senator Ruston, from sitting on the ERC, would note, in the lead-up to a budget you do go through a process of assessing, approving and making decisions about what will be funded in the budget. Those decisions are currently before government. I am trying to be directly relevant—

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Sorry, Minister—Senator Ruston?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise on a point of relevance. I was actually asking the minister in relation to a commitment that had been promised on 1 July—why it was being considered in the budget in October when it actually had been committed to start on 1 July?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator. I'll draw the minister's attention to that part of the question. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Someone's trying to help me here. If it is relating to a previously funded commitment from the former government, we are also going through a process around that. Look, I think that in the interests of the chamber and giving accurate information, I'm not briefed on this matter and I would bring this information back to the senator following question time.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Ruston, a first supplementary.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Why is the government creating uncertainty for young Australians facing mental health challenges by not honouring funding commitments? Young Australians living on Bribie Island were promised greater access to mental health services by the establishment of permanent official telehealth satellite services. Why is the government creating uncertainties for these vulnerable Australians by refusing to confirm this funding? And is it the intention of the government to put all of its election promises through the ERC?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In relation to the second part of the question: yes, we are a fiscally responsible government and we will be putting through all our expenditure.

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I don't know how it worked under the previous government; whether you just signed blank cheques that went around ERC or whether the Prime Minister just authorised all the spending, but we have—

I am trying to answer the question, Senator Rennick.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. I'll wait for quiet. Senators on my right! Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

All of our election commitments, and other pressures that are coming our way—of which there are substantial—will be going through the ERC process. I don't think that is a surprise—or it shouldn't be a surprise—to anyone.

In relation to the allegation around uncertainty: I reject the insinuation in the question. Labor is always about investing and strengthening Medicare and health services. We will do that, and you will see that in the October budget. Labor is always about investing and strengthening Medicare and health services, and we will do that, and you will see that in the October budget.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Second supplementary, Senator Ruston?

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How is the government creating certainty for women escaping family, domestic and sexual violence by not honouring funding commitments? Funding was allocated in the budget for the Zahra Foundation for a national expansion of their successful confidential financial counselling support for victims-survivors of FDSV. Why is the government now proposing to review the budget funding provided for this critical support?

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I completely reject the allegation that's implicit in the question—completely and totally. We are going through a process where we are assessing all financial expenditure through our ERC process. Again, that is good government and good governance, and we are being responsible with the nation's finances. If that means going through a process to assess and determine what should go ahead and what shouldn't, then we are doing that. But we'll be delivering on our election commitments and on our election policy in full. We will do what we said we would do. The Prime Minister has made that clear.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

On a point of relevance in relation to honouring election commitments, if the government is intending to honour its election commitments, why is it reviewing them?

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I'm not quite sure that's a point of order, Senator Ruston. Minister Gallagher.

Katy Gallagher (ACT, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Public Service) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

We're not reviewing the merits of our policy commitments. We are going through an ERC process as we go through for the budget. That is how responsible governments that want to manage the budget properly conduct themselves. That is what we are doing, and we're committed to our election commitments.