Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Assistant Minister for Health, Senator Nash. Are DonateLife grants subject to the approval of the Minister for Finance, Senator Cormann? Can the minister advise the Senate if any grants have been made since the new approval process was put in place?

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

I thank the senator for her question. I advise the chamber that I will take some advice on that and advise the senator as soon as possible.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. Has the minister made representations to the Minister for Finance on behalf of the DonateLife grant applicants, given that DonateLife Week is in February next year? If not, why not?

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

I refer the senator to my earlier answer and will advise her as soon as possible.

Kim Carr (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader for Science) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

'Have you made representations?'—you want to take that on notice!

John Faulkner (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Have you or haven't you?

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When there is silence, I will ask Senator McLucas to ask her supplementary question. When there is silence, we will proceed. Senator McLucas.

Jan McLucas (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Mental Health) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a further supplementary question. I refer to the Prime Minister's pre-election promise that there would be no cuts to health. Is the DonateLife program safe from cuts?

Honourable Senators:

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! A question has been asked of the minister. I am waiting for silence so that the minister can be called. When there is silence, I will call the minister. Minister.

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

The senator would be well aware, as I have indicated to the chamber previously, that a range of programs are being reviewed as a result of the economic situation—

Opposition Senators:

Opposition senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! When there is silence I will call the minister. Minister, continue.

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

To continue: as a result of the economic situation the previous government left for this government to fix.

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.

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Senator Moore is on her feet wanting to take a point of order.

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

My point of order is on relevance. It was a specific question about one program. The minister has the chance to answer it or take it on notice.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. The minister is addressing the question. The minister still has 36 seconds remaining to address the question.

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

I find it extraordinary to get questions on health from the other side, from the previous government, which promised to slash elective surgery waiting lists and they increased. We saw portfolio staffing numbers increase by 27 per cent, $4 billion ripped from private health, $1 billion from dental—

Honourable senators interjecting—

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Unless there is silence, I cannot hear the answer the minister is giving and neither can anyone else. It is not a decision for me to make a judgement about the quality or otherwise of any answer, but I am entitled to listen to the minister's answer. Minister, continue—

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

Mr President, I again raise a point of order on relevance. The question was about the Prime Minister's commitment and the specific program. The minister has gone again into a general background rather than answering the question.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order at this stage. The minister still has 19 seconds remaining, and I call the minister.

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

It is absolutely relevant to point out to the Senate that the fact that this current government are having to review a range of programs is because of the financial mess the previous Labor government left for this government to deal with. We will be acting appropriately in the best interests of taxpayers.

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

Mr President, I again raise a point of order on relevance. I realise there are only two seconds left to go, but the minister should answer the question.

John Hogg (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There is no point of order. Minister, continue.

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

Thank you. We will be reviewing all programs. (Time expired)