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 and Aged Care, Senator Gallagher. The current shortage of saline IV fluids in Australia poses a very serious risk to the operations of our healthcare system. Last week, you confirmed the government had known about an impending shortage since May 2023. Overseas drug regulators including the FDA, the European Medicines Agency and New Zealand's Pharmac have confirmed that they have minimal to no issues with their national supplies. Minister, now that it has become apparent that this shortage has resulted from your government's lack of action, will you correct the record and admit that this is not, as the health minister has falsely claimed, a global shortage and finally take responsibility for a crisis of your own making?

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

I thank Senator Ruston for the question. I know you'd like to blame everything that happens around the world on the Albanese government, but I think it is a bit of a stretch to say that the shortage of IV fluids, which has affected a number of countries around the world, is the fault of the Albanese government. We have put in place a number of steps to ensure that appropriate management of the shortage of IV fluids is managed as you would expect, and this is really common practice—

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

Minister Gallagher, please resume your seat. Senator McKenzie, I do not intend to call you to attention the whole of question time. Minister Gallagher, please continue.

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

These matters are managed, and they're managed very effectively in the health system, as they are across a wide range of medications should there be a shortage. There are well-established mechanisms to manage these shortages, and the health minister met with his colleagues on Friday. They released a joint statement on IV fluid shortages, including the steps being taken to address supply in Australia by the national IV fluid response group as well as reassurance to the Australian public that health services are continuing. I know the TGA, as I said last week, is also managing a number of steps to ensure that we are doing everything we can to increase supply of fluids for use across our hospital and health system, and all of those steps are being done as well. Of all the systems there are, the health system manages shortage of supply of certain medications—in this case, IV fluids. They have well-established systems. They do so appropriately and so they can continue to operate the services that the Australian people expect.

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

Senator Ruston, first supplementary?

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

I'm not sure Australians in hospital would suggest that you've been managing this effectively. Minister, Australia has sovereign manufacturing capability of saline IV fluids and your government was given a significant warning of the impending shortage. Since the minister became aware of the issue last year, what discussions has he or have the Albanese government had with Australia's saline manufacturer, Baxter, to see how they could support them to expand their capacity?

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

I know that the health department has been engaging with all of the suppliers that exist in Australia, including Baxter, about how they can work to increase the supply, and they've been working with the TGA. It is expected that supply will continue to be constrained for a little while yet, but all jurisdictions report that they do have supply and that there is supply remaining while further resources are put into securing additional supply.

Queensland and Victoria are currently the most affected, with other states having more supply than those. South Australia's position is improving now they have access to overseas supply through some of the arrangements that the health department has put in place. So everybody is working together to ensure continuity of the health system and to maximise the opportunities to alleviate supply. I'll come back if there is anything further I can give the shadow minister on Baxter.

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

Senator Ruston, second supplementary?

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

At the height of the COVID pandemic, Australia faced a global supply crisis of key medical equipment with barely any warning at all. Instead of deflecting to the states, the coalition government used the National Medical Stockpile to guarantee our supplies and provide them to state jurisdictions. Minister, why has the Albanese government refused to show similar leadership on the national shortage of saline IV fluids and is instead misleading the public, deflecting to the states and territories and taking no responsibilities at all?

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

I think it was you, Senator Ayres. If it was, I ask you to withdraw.

Tim Ayres (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Trade) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I withdraw.

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

I thank Senator Ruston for the question. This is, as I think the question highlights, the big difference between the former Morrison government, which sought to divide and fight with the states, and a government that is working with the states in the national interest to deliver the supply.

In relation to Baxter, further to the question asked previously, Baxter is the major supplier of saline products in Australia.

Well, you may know that, Senator Ruston. I'm answering your question. They have advised the TGA they are working to expand domestic manufacture in 2024, and they are also supplying overseas registered products as an interim measure to meet the increased demand. So everything is working as it should when there is a supply shortage. We don't seek to blame the states. We have a national response to IV fluids that is being managed appropriately by the Commonwealth in conjunction and partnership with the states.